Must-see attractions in Le Marche

  • Tempio di Valadier built in 1828 inside a cave near caves of Frasassi.
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    Grotte di Frasassi

    Le Marche

    Deep in the hill country near the remote village of Genga, the Grotte di Frasassi is one of Europe’s largest cave systems. This karst wonderland, gouged…

  • The Basilica della Santa Casa (English: Basilica of the Holy House) is a shrine of Marian pilgrimage in Loreto, Italy.

    Basilica della Santa Casa

    Le Marche

    This majestic hilltop sanctuary is one of Italy's most celebrated pilgrimage sites. The basilica, built between 1469 and 1587, is a stunning hybrid of…

  • Courtyard Buonaccorsi Palace Macerata Marche Italy Europe. (Photo by: MauroFlamini/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

    Musei Civici di Palazzo Buonaccorsi

    Le Marche

    Deep in the historic centre, the 17th-century Palazzo Buonaccorsi houses three of Macerata's best museums. The Museo delle Carozza boasts an extensive…

  • ITALY - CIRCA 2002:  Martyrdom of St Barbara and the Madonna of Loreto, detail from the stories of St Barbara, Our Lady of Loreto and St Anthony, 1449, by Bartolomeo di Tommaso (born between ca 1408 and 1411-1454), detached fresco. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images); Foligno, Pinacoteca Comunale (Art Museum, Frescoes). (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

    Pinacoteca Comunale di Ancona

    Ancona

    Ancona's fascinating civic art gallery houses Le Marche's most important art collection. Spread over two 16th- to 17th-century palazzi, the museum traces…

  • Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle

    Le Marche

    The poster child of the Parco del Conero's beaches is this dreamy white-pebble beach named after two rock stacks (the Due Sorelle or two sisters) that…

  • Cattedrale di San Ciriaco

    Ancona

    A stiff but scenic climb up from the old town, Ancona's domed cathedral dominates the city skyline. Guarded by two marble lions, it commands sweeping…

  • Torre Civica

    Le Marche

    Conceived as early as 1492 but not completed until 1653, Macerata's 64m-tall civic tower looms over Piazza della Libertà. It's most obvious feature is its…

  • Gola dell'Infernaccio

    Le Marche

    There's fine walking to be had in the spectacular mountain country near the village of Montefortino. A stunning, and relatively accessible route, leads…

  • Mole Vanvitelliana

    Ancona

    With its distinct pentagonal form, the waterfront Mole Vanvitelliana (also knownas the Lazzaretto) is one of Ancona's signature buildings. Designed and…

  • Centro Storico

    Le Marche

    Sarnano's medieval centre sprawls up the hillside in a tangle of steep cobbled lanes and attractive red-brick houses. Climb to the top and you'll come to…

  • Chiesa di Santa Maria della Piazza

    Ancona

    Contrasting sharply with the industrial scenery of the nearby port, the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Piazza is one of Ancona's showpiece churches. Its…

  • Piazza del Plebiscito

    Ancona

    Crowned by the baroque Chiesa di San Domenico, this sloping cafe-lined square has been Ancona's favourite meeting spot since medieval times. At its head,…

  • Musei Civici

    Le Marche

    Once the residence of a powerful noble family, the 16th-century Palazzo Mosca provides the aristocratic setting for Pesaro's premier museum. Of the…

  • Arena Sferisterio

    Le Marche

    A stunning outdoor theatre, the neoclassical Arena Sferisterio is a grand colonnaded affair that was built between 1820 and 1829 to resemble an ancient…

  • Parco del Cardeto

    Ancona

    The din of central Ancona fades to a distant hum at this 35-hectare park north of the centre. Straddling two hills – the Colle dei Cappuccini and Monte…

  • Chiesa di San Domenico

    Ancona

    With its two-tone brick and marble facade, this 18th-century baroque church sits at the head of Piazza del Plebiscito. Its prize possessions are two…

  • Casa Rossini

    Le Marche

    In 1792 composer Gioachino Rossini was born in this four-storey town house on what is now the main drag through Pesaro's historic centre. The small museum…

  • Arco Clementino

    Ancona

    Built by Luigi Vanvitelli in 1738, this portside arch takes its name from Pope Clement XII who boosted Ancona's fortunes by declaring the city a free port…

  • Arco di Traiano

    Ancona

    At the northern end of the port, the Arco di Traiano is one of Ancona's treasured ancient relics. Built between AD 110 and 116 by a Syrian architect known…

  • Spiaggia San Michele

    Le Marche

    This glorious long beach, sandwiched between crystalline cobalt waters and low white cliffs coated in Mediterranean macchia (shrubland), is a favourite…

  • Loggia dei Mercanti

    Le Marche

    This arcaded Renaissance landmark is one of several historic buildings fronting Piazza della Libertà, Macerata's showpiece square. Built in 1505 for…

  • Fontana del Calamo

    Ancona

    Head along Corso Mazzini to see the Fontana del Calamo, a 16th-century fountain featuring 13 masked spouts representing mythical fauns and satyrs…

  • Spiaggia Urbani

    Le Marche

    A gentle arc of gravelly sand backed by steeply banked woods, the Spiaggia Urbani is the closest beach to Sirolo, accessible on foot or via a summer…

  • Teatro delle Muse

    Ancona

    Overlooking Piazza dell Repubblica, Ancona's ornate theatre has been a city landmark since 1826. Its columned neoclassical facade is capped by Greek-style…

  • Porta Pia

    Ancona

    At the southern end of the port, the baroque Porta Pia was built as a monumental entrance to the town in the late 18th century at the request of Pope Pius…

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