ITALIAN ART AND FOOD

Le Marche, with its harmonious combination of art, history and countryside, offers an almost eternal range of tourist activities: this region is like a kind of big museum, combined with great bathing opportunities, thanks to 180 km long coast line. The Apennine mountain chain even permits large excursions and skiing holidays

The Marche area is rich in history and art. This fact becomes clear if one takes a look at some of the more than 100 artistis towns, the 139 castels, the 15 fortresses and forts, the 170 towers, the thousands af churches, the more than 40 well kept convents, the 24 archeological sights, and the 71 historical theatres of which 42 are still running.

Art

The regions artist and historical heritage is queit unknown, it is often more or less ignored, although it is one of the richest in Italy in art and culture.

In Le Marche you will find almost all kinds of stilistic styles, from every historical epoch. With its 234 museums (in which you will find works of art, made by the some of history most talented painters, sculptors and architects), the almost 400 santuaries and roman churches, the 7 nature parks, the 24 archeological sights, and the more than 1000 historical monuments, spread in around 100 towns, Le Marche is without any doubt a region worth exploring, and a place that will remain in the hearts of those who will have the pleasure to getting to know it.

History

From the 13th. to the 15th. century a number of powerfull families ruled "La Marca" (this was the name of the region back then) It's because of the influence and power of these big families (The Malatestaes in Pesaro and in Ancona, the Montefeltroes in Urbino, the Sforzaea and the Della Roveres in other towns) that the middleage-towns began to assume their historical and their character. In the thereafter following years, the region became the battlefield for the Papal States, and it remained so untill the napoleonic domination. In 1816, with the restoration of the clerical power, the region was split up into four delegations in which were found the counties that are still here today: Ascoli Piceno, Pesaro, Urbino, Ancona and Macerata.

In a big number of the towns in Le Marche, middleage commemorations are being held every year. These "feste" are small pieces of history, brought to life by whole towns dressed up in middleage costumes, parades, games, food and much more, which gives the sensation of stepping back in time, to the middleages. These celebrations are to be found all over Le Marche, but we suggest in particular "La Contesa del Secchio" in S. Elpidio a Mare, "La Quintana" in Ascoli Piceno and "La Cavalcata dell'Assunta" in Fermo.