smaller regions of Italy<\/a>. Despite its size, there is geographical diversity across the region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nInland is dominated by the Apennine Mountains, including Mount Vettore, which, at 2,476 meters, is the highest peak in the Marche. Many towns and villages are scenic hilltop settlements surrounded by rolling farmland. Some mountain communities live in almost total isolation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe coastal plain along the Adriatic Sea stretches over 115 miles in length but is only 10-15 miles wide. It features long sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and some hilly green terrain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Conero promontory near Ancona has scenic and woodland scenery with fishing harbors and coves beneath the towering limestone cliffs.<\/span><\/p>\nSo the Marche has a rugged mountain landscape blending into hilly coastal plains along the clear waters of the Adriatic \u2013 a variety that enhances its attraction for tourism.<\/span><\/p>\nThe region is also known for its agricultural output, especially olive oil, wine, and fruits. Artisan crafts remain important to local culture and economy, too.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Marche Known For?<\/h3>\n
As well as Adriatic beaches and beautiful mountainous scenery, here are some of the main things the Marche region is renowned for:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Food & Wine<\/b> – Specialities like olive all’ascolana, vincigrassi pasta, brodetto fish stew\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Fairs & Festivals<\/b> – Events like Macerate Opera, Rossini Festival\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Shoes & Leathergoods<\/b> – High-quality handmade shoes from cities like Fermo<\/span><\/li>\n
- Paper & Printing <\/b>– Papermaking since 1300s; specialist ledger printers\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Furniture Design –<\/b> High-end contemporary furnishings using artisanal techniques<\/span><\/li>\n
- Violins & Musical Instruments<\/b> – Hand-crafted string instruments, especially in Pesaro<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pottery & Ceramics<\/b> – Traditional designs and glazes still produced by artisans<\/span><\/li>\n
- Lace Making<\/b> – Needle lace such as Renaissance-style reticella, still woven by hand<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, tourism experiences available include gastronomic indulgence, cultural events, artisan shopping opportunities, and museums dedicated to these historic local industries.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the Most Famous Cities to Visit in Marche?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\nSome of the most popular cities in Marche Italy<\/strong>\u00a0 for visitors include Ancona<\/strong>, Ascoli Piceno, Urbino, Pesaro, and San Benedetto del Tronto<\/strong>. These Marche cities see the highest number of tourists each year based on attractions, amenities, accessibility, and overnight hotel stays.<\/span><\/p>\nThe capital Ancona, receives over 1 million visitors annually to explore its historic port, cathedral, and ferry access to Croatia and Greece. Ascoli Piceno sees around 500,000 tourists for its ancient ruins, medieval structures like the Gothic church of San Francesco, and its location close to sandy beaches. Urbino attracts 300,000 people to its Renaissance-era palaces and status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coastal cities of Pesaro and San Benedetto del Tronto combined welcome over 1 million beachgoers and families enjoying resort town activities and things to do in the Marche region.<\/span><\/p>\nWith charming hilltowns, sophistication, history, food, and seaside relaxation, these Marche cities offer the top things for tourists looking to experience the beautiful region and culture of central Italy along the Adriatic Sea coast.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Marche region has many wonderful cities and towns to explore. Those listed below are among the most popular destinations based on visitor numbers, range of attractions, and architectural heritage.<\/span><\/p>\nAncona<\/span><\/h3>\nAncona is the capital city of the Marche region<\/strong> and its largest urban area. It has a population of around 100,000, making it one of the main ferry ports in Italy for trade and travel to Croatia and Greece.<\/span><\/p>\nThe old town lies on a promontory with the iconic Cathedral of San Ciriaco, built in the 11th-13th centuries, high above the harbor. Below lies the bustling port filled with seafood restaurants and bars.<\/span><\/p>\nAncona has museums housing Roman archaeological remains as well as paintings by artists like Titian and Carlo Crivelli. Other sites include churches with Byzantine-style frescos, the marble Arch of Trajan built in 115 AD, and its defensive walls and citadel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIt is also a gateway to the beaches along the <\/span>Conero Riviera<\/b>, like Portonovo Bay, famed for its clear waters and seafood cuisine. Excursion boats run to Conero Regional Park with walks to scenic coastal cliffs.<\/span><\/p>\nPesaro\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nPesaro<\/strong> is a coastal city most famous as the birthplace of the composer Gioacchino Rossini. Tourists can visit Rossini’s house museum and the annual Rossini Opera Festival held in August.<\/span><\/p>\nOther cultural highlights include Roman remains like the mosaic floors of Villa Imperiale, ceramics in the Oliveriana Museum, and paintings from the Middle Ages to Renaissance in the Civic Museum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPesaro’s long sandy beaches mean peak tourism is in summer. Beach resorts like Baia Flaminia and Levante attract Italian families to their parks, hotels and entertainment facilities, while the old town offers boutique shopping and caf\u00e9s.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNature walks are available in the San Bartolo Regional Park, stretching behind Pesaro. The Furlo Pass through the mountains is also a scenic drive into Tuscany.<\/span><\/p>\nFano<\/span><\/h3>\nFano is an ancient seaside town situated at the mouth of the River Metauro, just south of Marche\u2019s best-known resorts. It boasts over two millennia of history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSights include the 1st-century Arch of Augustus, Pincio Gardens with views over the town, medieval defensive walls, and an impressive 16th-century fortress.<\/span><\/p>\nThe old townhouses were Roman and Renaissance buildings like the Cathedral, Temple of Fortuna, and Palazzo del Podesta. Local cuisine makes good use of fresh Adriatic fish and seafood.<\/span><\/p>\nSeven miles of sandy beaches allow swimming, sailing and water sports. Fano holds an annual BrodettoFest seafood festival in July alongside a lively cultural program of music and entertainment throughout the summer.<\/span><\/p>\nSan Benedetto del Tronto\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nSan Benedetto del Tronto is the second largest city in the Marche region, with an urban population of around 50,000. Its economy centers around fishing boat building and the largest fishing fleet in Italy in its bustling modern harbor.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLong sandy beaches dotted with beach clubs and cafes mean summer tourism is popular with Italians. Sights include the Tower of St Benedict, a fishing harbor, local museums, and an archaeological park showcasing finds from a Roman villa inhabited in the 6th century BC.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nModern hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs keep the city lively year-round, while festivals add a summer cultural buzz. Beach sports like sailing, windsurfing, and beach volleyball are popular.<\/span><\/p>\nAscoli Piceno\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nAscoli Piceno is the main city inland in the Marche and one of Italy\u2019s most beautiful medieval towns. Its architecture incorporates Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance elements, with buildings made using white travertine marble.<\/span><\/p>\nThe central Piazza del Popolo is renowned as one of the country\u2019s most perfect and photogenic Renaissance squares. Other highlights include a Cathedral with an unusual domed Gothic belfry, museums housed in former palaces, and views across olive groves to the Sibillini Mountains \u2013 now a National Park with trails to hike.<\/span><\/p>\nLocal delicacies to try include olives stuffed with minced veal, fried crepes stuffed with cheese and herbs, and baccala-dried codfish prepared in tomato sauce.<\/span><\/p>\nSenigallia\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nSenigallia is an extremely popular seaside resort on the Marche coastline, often referred to as \u201cVelvet Beach\u201d due to its smooth, sandy beaches. It sits on a plain at the mouth of the River Misa.<\/span><\/p>\nIt has over 25km of award-winning Blue Flag golden beaches that attract many visitors in summer to enjoy the fervid social scene. Beach resort facilities cater to families, while bars and clubs appeal to young Italians.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe town also holds a prestigious annual Summer Jamboree festival celebrating Rock and Roll, swing dance, and music from the 1940s and 50s. Other sights include the imposing Rocca Roverasca fortress that now houses art exhibitions & the little Rotonda church atop slabs of Roman road.<\/span><\/p>\nCivitanova Marche\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nCivitanova Marche is located immediately south of the better-known Porto Recanti resort. It is a commercial and entertainment hub based around the long sandy beaches running down to the marina.<\/span><\/p>\nMany hotels, restaurants, and lively nightclubs provide the atmosphere of a summer party destination that keeps the city active year-round. Budget lodgings and eateries cater to young travelers and groups.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nRemnants of history remain amongst the modernity, including the 14th-century Castle built by Emperor Sigismondo and the Albani Palace, which houses the Civic Museum displaying paintings and archaeological artifacts.<\/span><\/p>\nMacerata<\/span><\/h3>\nMacerata is inland, surrounded by hills dotted with villages and medieval abbey towns. Its historic center showcases Renaissance palaces, churches, and museums, including one dedicated to carriages with an excellent restaurant incorporating the stables and riding school.<\/span><\/p>\nOne of Italy\u2019s finest examples of an outdoor theater is the Sferisterio Opera House, which hosts an annual Opera festival during July and August when the town fills with music lovers and events.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOther top attractions include the Cathedral, University, Astronomical Clock, and some Roman archaeological remains. Jazz, opera, and ballet performances accompany summer cultural festivals that attract visitors from across Italy and overseas.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nRegional food and wine specialty shops provide the chance to taste and purchase local delights like stuffed olives, salami, cheeses, pasta, honey, and visciolata cherry and almond cake.<\/span><\/p>\nJesi\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nJesi is a small but historically important town located just 11km southwest of Ancona province. Narrow cobblestone streets run off the main Piazza della Repubblica, featuring picturesque medieval architecture housing caf\u00e9s, restaurants, and shops.\u00a0 Its Palazzo dei Consoli was one of the earliest town halls established in Italy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nJesi’s most famous son is composer Gaspare Spontini. Theatres and a school of music provide a strong cultural heritage alongside museums and churches within its old defensive walls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFood and agriculture remain important to modern-day Jesi, which holds an annual Verdicchio wine festival each September, celebrating the grapes grown locally. Accommodation caters to wine tourists with agriturism farm stays available.<\/span><\/p>\nFermo\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nFermo is a scenic hilltop town located in the southern Marche province of Ascoli Piceno. Historic sights include the elegant Piazza del Popolo lined by medieval Palazzi with arched loggias, the 12th century gothic Cattedrale dei Santi Martino e Marco with elaborate frescos, and panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.<\/span><\/p>\nNarrow lanes hide craft workshops specializing in gold filigree jewelry, ceramics, embroidery, wrought iron, and wood carving \u2013 skills practiced locally since medieval times. The annual crafts fair in August transforms the town.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLocal vineyards produce quality DOC-designated wines from Passerina, Pecorino, and Lacrima grapes, which visitors can taste. Just five miles away, the beaches of the Adriatic coastline offer an easily accessible seaside escape.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the Safest Cities in Marche Region?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nStatistics measuring crime rates and safety<\/span> perceptions done by offical website istat.it suggest some of the safest cities to live in within the Marche region are its smaller rural inland towns.<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Ascoli Piceno:<\/b> Ascoli Piceno is a small city with a population of <\/span>around 50,000 people<\/span>. It has a very low crime rate, with only <\/span>2.33 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021<\/span>. The city is also known for its beautiful historic center and its friendly residents.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Macerata:<\/b> Macerata is a university city with <\/span>around 42,000 people<\/span>. It has a slightly higher crime rate than Ascoli Piceno, <\/span>with 3.22 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021<\/span>. However, the city is still considered to be very safe, and it is a popular choice for students and families.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Fermo:<\/b> Fermo is a small city with<\/span> around 35,000 people.<\/span> It has a very low crime rate, with only <\/span>2.11 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021<\/span>. The city is also known for its beautiful beaches and its proximity to the Sibillini Mountains.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- San Benedetto del Tronto:<\/b> San Benedetto del Tronto is a seaside resort town with a <\/span>population of around 47,000.<\/span> It has a slightly higher crime rate than Ascoli Piceno and Fermo, with<\/span> 2.59 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021. <\/span>