Le Marche – Italy’s Untouched Gem

Day 1 Fly to Bologna

On arrival, we transfer to the coastal city of Pesaro, famous as a UNESCO creative city of music, culture and art with many museums and galleries displaying treasured artwork and artefacts, making it a wonderful destination for a holiday in Pesaro. We check in at our hotel, Villa Cattani Stuart, a 17th century mansion surrounded by delightful Italian gardens, olive groves and a swimming pool. We are welcomed with a glass of prosecco. This evening, we enjoy dinner at a local trattoria, a short walk from the hotel.

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2 Fratte Rosa

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to the ancient hilltop village of Fratte Rosa, another highlight of our Le Marche tour, surrounded by rolling landscapes. We meet Rodolfo, a proud farmer and beekeeper to hear about his passion for the environment, nature and family plus his vision to always protect traditional and artisanal produce at risk of disappearing! Like the fava bean. We will stroll around the farm to see the cultivated fields, enjoy the views and a delicious homemade snack plus Rodolfo’s own wine, as part of our Le Marche wine tasting experience. We return to the village to take part in a cookery class to make ‘tacconi’, a local type of traditional pasta made with half fava bean flour and half wheat flour. We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant run by a young couple who learnt their pasta making skills from their family using seasonal products.

The village is also known for its ancient tradition of producing terracotta – ‘cocci di Fratte Rosa’. We visit the fascinating Museum of Terracotta and a few minutes’ walk away, we go to a workshop to try our hand at making some terracotta pottery with expert guidance from local artisans. Afterwards, we visit a family-run organic winery on the outskirts of the village which produces the only three DOC wines in the province of Pesaro-Urbino. Stroll through the vineyards and enjoy a delicious Le Marche wine tasting as we chat to the family about the wines and unique history. Dinner this evening will once again be in our local trattoria.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Fano

After our hotel breakfast, we continue our guided Le Marche tour with a visit to  the beautiful seaside town of Fano for a full day to explore its Roman origins and historic seafaring traditions. Together with our knowledgeable local guide, we discover more about the daily lives of the fishermen of Fano, the last guardians of a centuries-old industry. Stroll through the old port and its lively neighbourhoods and meet a local fisherman to hear tales from his decades of seafaring whilst he shows us the techniques and materials of mending fishing nets. Then, it’s time to discover a local secret in a charmingly old-fashioned café near the harbour where locals gather to watch the boats return at sunset. Fano is famous for Moretta, a hot coffee once prepared by fishermen and sailors on board their boats to keep them warm – made of expresso, dry anise, dark rum, brandy, sugar and lemon. Try it for yourself!

Afterwards, our Le Marche tour leads us to the lush countryside where Ivana will cook us a delicious lunch, a local dish, ‘brodetto di pesce fanese’ as we sit down with her family at her house. After lunch, Otello, Ivana’s husband will show us the vegetable garden dotted with centuries-old olive trees and blackberry bushes which are used by their daughter Francesca to make jam. Dinner this evening will once again be in our local trattoria.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Ascoli Piceno & Palazzo dei Mercanti

After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and enjoy a private transfer to our next hotel in Ascoli Piceno, a medieval town known for its incredible architecture, art, food and wine – one more highlight of our Le Marche tour. En route, we will reach Acqualagna and will stop at the Furlo Gorge, a beautiful nature reserve famous for the golden eagle. We stop at the local ‘Bar del Furlo’ for a delicious brunch and to listen to the story of this beautiful nature reserve which preserves 200 million years of history and nature. Afterwards, we continue to our hotel, Palazzo dei Mercanti. This evening, we enjoy a welcome drink and light-hearted Italian language lesson at Ci.Bo Ristorantino, an elegant and cheerful restaurant adjacent to the hotel. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine, a delicious local snack of Olive Ascolane and have a go at speaking a few Italian words! Afterwards, we will sit down for dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner

Day 5 Walking tour to discover Ascoli Piceno

After breakfast at our hotel, we take a classic guided walking tour (1 hour and 30 minutes) to discover the key landmarks of Ascoli Piceno including the Corso Mazzini, the Jewish Ghetto, Piazza Arringo, Piazza del Popolo, the Church of San Francesco, and the city’s beautiful cloisters. In the afternoon, we return to the Ci.Bo Ristorantino to learn how to make authentic and mouth-watering Ascolana Stuffed Olives and enjoy a Le Marche wine tasting, including a glass of sparkling wine.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 Offida

Today, we will take an excursion to Offida, known as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. This charming hilltop village, renowned for its lace-making tradition and elegant architecture will welcome you with its truly authentic atmosphere. Highlights include the Archaeological Museum, the Municipal Art Gallery and Santa Maria della Rocca, a Romanesque-Gothic temple. The visit will be followed by lunch and a wine tasting at Cantina D’Erasmo, where you will discover the distinctive character of local wines and the winemaking traditions of the area.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 Time to explore Ascoli Piceno

Today we have a day at leisure in Ascoli Piceno. Bordered by two national parks, the compact historic centre of art, food and wine is full of elegant, stately squares and historic churches with towers and belfries dotted across the skyline. A perfect opportunity to explore the city at our own pace – enjoy a relaxed stroll through its picturesque streets, browse local boutiques or relax over a coffee in one of the beautiful piazzas while soaking in the timeless atmosphere.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 Departure

After breakfast, we depart our hotel for the transfer back to Rome airport, at the end of our memorable Le Marche tour, for our return flight to the UK.

Meals included: Breakfast