Regional Spotlight: Le Marche, Italy

If you haven’t heard about Le Marche, you probably don’t live in Italy. It’s a little-known Italian region wedged between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines. It is an undiscovered paradise. There are over 100 miles of beaches stretching from Pesaro to San Benedetto del Tronto. Le Marche is a mecca popular with Italian beach goers. And with over 98% refined beach coastline, Le Marche is a popular summer destination.

However, there is more to Le Marche than beach. Ciclismo Classico Director Lauren Hefferon’s Italian roots live close to Genga. Our flagship trip Bike Across Italy spends four fabulous days riding through these mountains. So many of Le Marche’s inland rivers have been running through these hills for millennia. Their movement has carved spectacular sculptures in the rock at the gorges of Rossa, Pioraco and Infernaccio. The Sibillini mountains are home to peaks like Monte Vettore, extending well beyond 2,000 meters. For an unknown region, there is plenty to discover.

Go Beyond Outside

However, Le Marche is also synonymous with culture. The region has given light to some of Italy’s finest minds. The distinguished writer Giacomo Leopardi grew up here. Educator Maria Montessori, opera composer Rossini and renaissance architect and painter Bramante were all Marchegiani. And this is the shortlist.

The fact is, few outsiders have heard of Le Marche. Yet Ciclismo Classico has been traveling here for decades. We’ve been uncovering all of Le Marche’s secrets, discovering more to reveal. Here is our secret list of the top ten places to see in this fascinatingly unknown Italian region:

The Grotte di Frasassi

This karst grotto in the Genga municipality is actually a series of caves and caverns. It is so large the Milano duomo could sit comfortably inside these 200 meter-tall stone rooms.

Over a million years ago the Sentino River ran much higher than it does today. Its waters penetrated the limestone boulders surrounding Frassasi. The mix between the cold waters and weak hydrogen sulfide from the stones accelerated their erosion over millennia. And this handiwork is an amazing sight to behold.

The result is an impressive display of mother nature’s artwork. Stalactites and stalagmites decorate the entire cavern. Some of them are tens of meters tall, others microns thick. The mineral colors display a kaleidoscope array. The red-iron and cobalt-blue deposits highlight the features. Some natural wells are over 25 meters deep and there are well over 67 species of unique animals dwelling in these deeps.

Urbino

Urbino was one of the most important cities during the Italian Renaissance. Federico da Montefeltro, lord of Urbino from 1444 to 1482, was the man responsible for many major urban modifications. Yet he was also a lifeline of diplomatic talents, bringing peace to the region.  Yet most importantly, he was an enthusiast of the arts and letters. Federico made a significant cultural contribution to Urbino’s humanities.

This noble managed substantial political unrest during his 40-year reign. He reorganized the Le Marche and reorganized the city of Urbino. He fortified the city, making it impenetrable to enemy fractions.

But most notably, Federico da Montefeltro was a humanist. He hosted Renaissance figures such as painter Piero della Francesca and author Baldassarre Castiglione. Della Francesca became an expert on prospective painting. Castiglione wrote Il Cortegiano: a guide to gentlemen’s etiquette, in vogue until the 20th C.

Senigallia

Best known for its velvety beaches, Senigallia is no stranger to the summer beach season. Senigallia has received multiple awards for its clean coastal waters. Recently the FEE (Fondation of Environmental Education) has awarded Senigallia prizes for beach infrastructure and development.

However, Senigallia’s pre-roman history has little to do with the Etruscans. To consider this sea-side villages’ history is to understand the Celtic tribes which invaded from the north, thousands of years ago. In 400 BC, a small branch of Gallic Senones extended their territory down from the north, holding the Adriatic coast. Almost a century later, the Romans conquered the coast, naming the city after its initial inhabitants: the Senones Gauls.

The city has recently restored the most recognizable landmark: the Rotonda sul Mare. Be sure to find many exhibits in this unique gallery.

Wine

Some of Italy’s best and less familiar wines come from Le Marche. Mount Conero, just south of Ancona, provides fertile mountain sides for excellent harvesting. The area is rich in Montepulciano grapes, of which the Rosso di Conero is an excellent derivative. The Rosso di Conero Reserva is a DOCG appellation. Characteristically ruby-red and dry, its rich flavor pairs well with wild game from the region. As for award-winning wines, look no further than the Dorico 2016 Conero Riserva from Alessandro Moroder. It won the prestigious Tre Bicchiere from Gambero Rosso last year and deserves a place in your wine cellar.

But one of the region’s most well-known varietals is verdicchio. This white grape grows almost exclusively in Le Marche. Considered the native grape of this region, local vintners have been cultivating it since the 16^th C.

The producers in the Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi district produce a white wine with a lot of body. The Castelli di Jest Verdicchio Riserva contains 85% verdicchio with 15% other white varietals. It pairs best with shellfish (raw or cooked) but its acidity balances well with grilled seafood. The Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Misco 2017 from Tenuta di Tavignano has also been an award winner for the Le Marche.

Le Marche continues to win awards every year. In 2019 the region received a staggering 21 awards for reds and whites. Be sure to look for other labels such as Lacrima di Morro d’Alba, I Terreni di Sanseverino Rosso Superiore and Bianchello del Metuaro to extend your Marchegiano wine knowledge.

Cuisine

Le Marche share similar foods and methods of preparation with neighboring regions. However, there are some products that are uniquely Marchegiano and protected by the Slow Food movement.

Ciauscolo is one of them. It is a typical salami from Le Marche. The origins of this unique treat may date back to the Lombard presence along the Adriatic. Some linguists believe the name derives from the Roman “cibusculum” or “spreadable food” since it is a soft salami, eaten on toast or crostini. The recipe and preparation of the pork meat is an ancient tradition, passed down from generation to generation. After filling the intestines with chopped meat, the salami is smoked for over three weeks.

Pecorino Cheese is at its best when it comes from high altitude. And one importance of the Sibillini mountains is their strong pastoral heritage. Monte Sibilla, at 2173 meters above sea level, is home to the national park and the cheese which comes from the grazing sheep in this agrarian paradise.

There are fresh and aged pecorino. Yet it is the aged variety (made with raw sheep’s milk) that has caught the eye of the Slow Food foundation. After an elaborate drying process, the cheese is ready for the table after 60 days.

But the best product revels itself after aging it for many months, after having formed a hard outer crust. The longer the aging, the spicier and sharper the flavor of the cheese with a longer persistent flavor.

The artichokes from Montelupone, green anise from Castignano and the Fabriano salami are other delicacies to find only in Le Marche.

Via Flaminia

The Via Flaminia is the ancient roman road connecting Rimini to the Roman capital, constructed in 220 BC. This road gave the Romans access to eastern Italy, unifying and repairing pre-existing sections of the old road.

In fact, it was the first – and for many centuries the only – road connecting Rome to northern Italy. From Rimini it continued on through Milan as the Via Emilia. The Marchegiano section of road was possibly some of the most naturally impressive stretch. It crossed the Apennines at Scheggia Pass before descending into the roman tunnel at the Furlo Gorge. After Furlo, it continued down along the Metauro river connecting with the Adriatic Sea in Fano.

If you’re looking to discover more secrets about the Le Marche, look no further. Get in touch with us, and we’ll show you the best Le Marche offers by bike! Check out all of our Le Marche departures: Dama Dream Ride, Bike Across Italy, Apennine Splendor and Epic Italy.