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Food & Dining 

The charcuterie here is exceptional. Ciauscolo — a soft, spreadable pork salami unique to Le Marche — is found everywhere, alongside Prosciutto di Carpegna and lamb and pork dishes cooked over open coals. Truffles, both white and black, feature heavily in autumn cooking across the inland valleys. 

The wines are equally serious. Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Offida Pecorino for whites; Rosso Conero, Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, and Rosso Piceno for reds. None of them are difficult to find, and none of them disappoint. 

Many of the best restaurants still write their menus on chalkboards according to what arrived fresh that morning. The owners have spent years exploring the local trattorie and hidden gems of the region and are happy to share their personal recommendations with guests.

Le Marche has one of Italy's most genuinely varied food cultures. The Adriatic coastline and the agricultural inland hills produce completely different traditions, and both are within easy reach of the house. 

On the coast, brodetto — the region's traditional fish stew — is the dish to know. Inland, the cooking runs deeper and slower: vincisgrassi (Le Marche's version of lasagna, richer and more complex than most), tagliatelle al tartufo, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, olive ascolane, and fritto misto. Every town has its own interpretation of the classics, and most are worth trying. 

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Linguine pasta with a mix of seafood including mussels, clams, and shrimp, garnished with chopped herbs.
Two tall glasses of orange and pink beverages with ice and straws on a white table, accompanied by small bowls of green olives and peanuts.
Assorted cured meats and cheeses on a white plate, including prosciutto, mortadella, slices of white cheese, and slices of red salami.
Stack of fried bread or flatbread with herbs in a basket.

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Towns and Villages 

Le Marche is full of hilltop towns and medieval villages, each with its own character. A few worth making time for:

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The facade of Teatro Pergolesi, a historic theater in Italy, with red and white brick exterior, large arched windows on the ground floor, and decorative architectural details under a clear blue sky.
Historic buildings and a bell tower on a hillside, with a blue sky in the background.
A marble statue in a public square with a church in the background, under a bright blue sky.

Jesi

A graceful walled town on the Esino River with a lively and relaxed atmosphere. Good restaurants, cafes, and wine bars throughout. L'Osteria Forno Ercole is recognised in the Michelin Guide. In the evenings, the area around the beautiful Teatro Pergolesi comes alive — Al Bar del Teatro is the spot for an aperitivo or live jazz on warm summer nights.

A hillside town with a historic stone castle at the top, surrounded by residential buildings and lush greenery, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Osimo

Hilltop town around 20 km south of Ancona, famous for its panoramic views, Roman walls from the 2nd century BCE, and the curious Roman statues found without their heads. Worth a morning.

Historic stone castle with towers and domes at sunset, surrounded by smaller buildings with lights, and green trees nearby.

Urbino

A UNESCO World Heritage city and one of the great centres of the Italian Renaissance. Birthplace of Raphael. Remarkably preserved, and still genuinely alive thanks to one of Europe's oldest universities, founded in 1506. 

View of a historic hilltop city with a white church and bell tower, a stone arch, and Mediterranean-style buildings under a blue sky.

Ancona

The regional capital and one of the Adriatic's main ports. Worth a half day for the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, the Arch of Trajan, and the seafood — particularly brodetto and the local wild mussels known as moscioli. 

A historic church with a tall clock tower, arched ground level entrance, and a clear blue sky in the background. Trees and a paved area with fencing are in the foreground.

Cingoli

Known as the Balcony of Le Marche, Cingoli sits at almost 600 metres with views stretching from the Apennines to the Adriatic on clear days. Awarded Best Borgo d'Italia in 2026, it is fifteen minutes from the house and a natural destination for a morning or afternoon out.

View of illuminated stalactites and stalagmites inside a large cave with walkways and railings.

Grotte di Frassassi

The Grotte di Frassassi are an immense underground karst cave system located in Genga within the Marche region’s Parco Naturale della Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi. Discovered in 1971, these spectacular caverns feature dramatic limestone formations carved by water over millions of years.

Sunset view of historical European city with domed cathedral and bell tower, surrounded by orange-roofed buildings.

Loreto

One of Italy's most significant pilgrimage destinations, home to the Basilica della Santa Casa and the revered Black Madonna. Renaissance architecture, beautiful piazzas, and wide views towards the coast.

Nighttime view of an outdoor amphitheater filled with an audience seated in rows, surrounded by a multi-story building with lit balconies.

Macerata

Known as the Athens of Le Marche. A lively university town with elegant streets and the extraordinary open-air Sferisterio Arena, which hosts the internationally acclaimed Macerata Opera Festival each summer. 

A circular pier extending into the water with a building on top, connected to the mainland by a walkway. The background shows a beach and a cityscape with various buildings.

Senigallia

One of Le Marche's best-loved seaside towns, famous for its 13-kilometre Velvet Beach and the Michelin-starred restaurants Uliassi and Madonnina del Pescatore nearby in Marzocca.

Bridge with a brick archway and tower, clock on the tower, signs below, and cobblestone street, with trees on the side and a person in the foreground.
A narrow street in a European town with historic stone and stucco buildings, a clock tower, and an archway at the end of the street under a clear blue sky.

Staffolo

A quiet medieval village surrounded by Verdicchio vineyards and often called the Balcony of the Vallesina. Good for a slow wander and lunch. La Grotta del Frate, inside a former monastery within the old town walls, is excellent.

Casa Carlotta is just a 30 minute drive from Ancona Falconara Airport. Full directions will be supplied upon booking. Find Us

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Beaches and Coastline

Le Marche has more than 180 kilometres of Adriatic coastline and holds more Blue Flag beaches than any other region in Italy. The variety is worth knowing about — each stretch has a different character.

The Riviera del Conero is the most dramatic: white limestone cliffs dropping to crystal-clear water, with pebble beaches including the famous Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle accessible only by boat or a steep coastal path. Portonovo, within the protected Parco del Conero, is calmer — a beautiful bay with clear water and excellent seafood restaurants looking out to sea. 

Senigallia offers a different experience entirely: 13 kilometres of soft golden sand, shallow water, and a lively promenade — particularly good for families. Porto Recanati is quieter, with over 9 kilometres of beach and a relaxed atmosphere. Cupra Marittima and San Benedetto del Tronto are both clean, uncrowded, and easy for a day trip. 

All are within a thirty to forty-five minute drive. 

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A tranquil beach scene with pebbled shoreline, clear blue water, and a distant pier with small buildings and trees along the coast under a partly cloudy sky.
Colorful kites flying in a blue sky over a sandy beach with ocean waves.
A table set for a meal by the beach with glasses of white wine, a water bottle, a basket of sliced bread, and cutlery, overlooking the sea and a distant rocky cliff.
View of a sandy beach through tree branches with green foliage, overlooking turquoise ocean water under a clear blue sky.
Aerial view of a coastal area with a beach, turquoise waters, and greenery, including trees and hills, near a small town or resort.

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Hiking & Walking 

Le Marche offers some of the most varied and uncrowded walking in central Italy, from gentle valley routes to serious mountain trails. 

Close to the house, the Cingoli Trails offer beautiful local walks of five to fourteen kilometres, including routes to the Cristo delle Marche with wide views towards the coast. 

For more committed walkers, the Sibillini Mountains National Park is the main destination — peaks above 2,000 metres, dramatic gorges, and wildflower meadows in spring and early summer. Recommended routes include Monte Vettore from Forca di Presta, the Monte Sibilla Loop, and the Lame Rosse near Lake Fiastra, often described as the canyon of Le Marche for its striking red rock formations. 

The Parco del Conero combines coastal paths with Mediterranean woodland above the Adriatic. The Gola del Furlo is a dramatic limestone gorge with peaceful walking routes and good birdlife. Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for most routes. 

Hiker standing on a trail in a mountainous landscape with green hills, rocky peaks, and a blue sky with clouds.
Statue of Jesus Christ with arms outstretched on a rock, in a grassy landscape under a partly cloudy blue sky.

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Wine & Festivals

Throughout late summer and autumn, towns across Le Marche hold traditional sagre and wine festivals celebrating local harvests and winemaking. A few worth planning around: 

Cantine Aperte (Open Cellars) — Held across the region during the last weekends of May and early June, with more than 80 wineries opening their doors for tastings, tours, and local food. 

Festa del Verdicchio, Staffolo — August. The hilltop town known as the Balcony of Verdicchio celebrates its wines with tastings, food stalls, music, and evening events. 

Festa del Rosso Conero, Camerano — Early September. Rich Rosso Conero wines, local food, and live entertainment in the streets. 

Sagra dell'Uva, Cupramontana — October. The oldest grape festival in Le Marche, considered one of the spiritual homes of Verdicchio. Wine, folklore, food, and harvest celebrations throughout the town.

Visciola Wine Festival, San Paolo di Jesi — October. A charming festival celebrating Vino di Visciola, a distinctive sweet cherry wine traditional to the region.

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Rows of grapevines with ripe purple grapes hanging from the vines in a vineyard.
A bottle of Marotti Campi Orgiolo Lacrima di Morro d'Alba wine on a wooden table next to a glass of red wine and a clear glass vase with mixed wildflowers.
A scenic view of vineyards in the foreground, a beige building with a red tiled roof in the middle ground, and rolling hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
A bottle of white wine, a glass of white wine, and a vase with pink and purple flowers on a dining table in a restaurant.

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Parks & Nature 

Almost 10% of Le Marche is protected landscape. The region has two national parks — the Monti Sibillini and Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga — along with several regional parks including the Conero, Monte San Bartolo, Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi, and Sasso Simone e Simoncello. 

The Frasassi Caves, within the Gola della Rossa regional park, are among the largest cave systems in Europe and well worth a visit. The Furlo Gorge offers dramatic limestone scenery with peaceful walking and strong birdlife. Whether on foot, by bicycle, or simply driving through, the landscape here is quieter and more varied than most of Italy's better-known regions. 

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Miniature replica of a classical building with a domed roof, inside a large rocky cave.

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Wildlife

The national and regional parks support Apennine wolves, wild boar, roe deer, and chamois. In the more remote Sibillini areas, golden eagles are occasionally spotted. The region sits along the Adriatic migratory route, making spring and autumn particularly good for birdwatching — peregrine falcons, eagle owls, bee-eaters, hoopoes, and herons are all present.

In spring and early summer, many of the hill meadows and mountain areas are filled with wildflowers and rare orchids, particularly across the Sibillini. Nature is not something you have to go

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A hoopoe bird standing on a branch with a distinctive crown of orange feathers tipped with black.
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A large elk with impressive antlers standing on rocky terrain near a dense forest of pine trees.
Woodpecker bird perched on tree trunk with black, white, red, and cream plumage
A wild boar standing on a forest floor covered with fallen leaves, with a blurred background of trees and sunlight filtering through.

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Golf 

For golfers, Le Marche offers a relaxed and scenic alternative to some of Italy's more crowded destinations.

Approximately 35 minutes from the house, the Conero Golf Club is the region's best-known course — an 18-hole championship layout (par 71) winding through olive trees and Mediterranean parkland within the Parco del Conero. The club has a 5-hole practice course, clubhouse, restaurant, pool, and tennis courts.

Closer to home, around 15 minutes away, (Jesi) the Campo Pratica di Golf offers a more informal experience with a 3-hole practice course and driving range, open to members and available to non-members by arrangement.

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A golf course with green fairways, sand bunkers, a small pond, and several golfers playing under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A golf course with green grass, flagsticks, and scattered trees on a sunny day.

FAQs

  • Ancona Airport is the closest international airport, approximately a 30-minute drive from the house.

  • Yes. Ryanair operates direct flights from London Stansted to Ancona Airport. Alternatively, you can fly into Bologna from several UK airports, which is around a 2½-hour drive from the house.

  • Jesi train station is approximately 20 minutes from the property.

  • Yes, we strongly recommend hiring a car to explore the region. Several major car hire companies operate from Ancona Airport.