Le Marche is a truly unspoilt region of Italy. Off the main tourist path, it gives guests everything they could wish for and more – undulating landscapes reminiscent of Tuscany along with beaches to rival the Caribbean. In fact, with 180 km of coastline to enjoy, it’s the perfect destination in Italy if you’re looking to spend time on the beach. However, as well as having scenery to rival that of its neighbour Tuscany, it can also boast art and architecture to rival its more famous neighbour too. Urbino was a centre for Renaissance art and is home to some incredible art and architecture. In short, Le Marche is an ideal destination for those looking to discover an authentic part of Italy. The good news is that we have a range of Le Marche villas fit for every occasion.
Can’t find the villa you want? Get in touch with your requirements and we’ll send you our suggestions.
EXCELLENT Based on 50 reviews Miki Leibowitz2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cassina Rossa in Forte Dei Marmi was a perfectly located villa to enjoy all things Forte & truly feel like a local! The communication with the owner and her representatives was so easy and they were VERY helpful with anything we needed during our stay. We so enjoyed waking up every morning and either taking our coffee intown while it was super quiet and watching everything wake up around us or on most mornings we rode the bikes that were supplied to us to the wonderful market that was literally down the street and picked up anything we needed fresh for the day. The kitchen was beautifully equipped and we made espresso most mornings and either sat outside on ground level patio or on the roof top overlooking the mountains. It was comfortable enough to have lunch and dinner at home a couple of times and fun setting a beautiful table with their pretty dishes, linens, etc. Having Bagno Vasco the very authentic classic beach club included was a dream and a big savings! Great food, easy location to bike or drive to and the position of our chairs, umbrella and sunbed right next to the sea was great. We were there for over 2 weeks and for a nominal amount he supplied us with their towels each day so we didn’t have to bring back and forth. The villa’s proximity to the center of town can’t be beat. It’s quiet enough to be a bit removed and beautiful to see the mountains whenever walking or riding home but so close to all the wonderful restaurants & very upscale & unique shops. Forte has such a unique vibe day and night especially on market days (Wednesday and Sunday). The markets are so full of clothing, housewares, etc that you’ll need to bring an extra bag or ship stuff home. People come from everywhere to take advantage of it. The location of Forte Dei Marmi is so central and close to other towns like Pietrasanta up in the hills which allows you to experience a completely different more typically Tuscan area within a short 15-20 min drive and it’s also very close to Lucca, Pisa & Carrara (where they get the marble) only 1 1/2 hours from Florence and Portofino if you are staying longer and want to take some wonderful daytrips. Forte Dei Marmi doesn’t have the dramatic coastline of the Amalfi coast but the beauty of looking one direction and seeing the beaches and looking the other and seeing the stunning mountains including Carrara is truly unique and offers its own special beauty. Another plus is that it is very flat so much easier than many Italian towns to walk and ride bikes which everyone does everywhere. It’s fun to see everyone (mostly Italians which we loved) fully dressed for dinner on bikes as it’s truly the chosen form of transportation for the young and old. We can’t wait to return!! Victor Johansen2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo at Bookings for You is absolutely wonderful to work with. We have booked properties in Sorrento and Sicily over the past two years (2022 & 2024) and have not been disappointed. The properties were 1st class and just phenomenal. Jo lists only the best based on; location, amenities, condition & cleanliness. I highly recommend Bookings for You when planning & booking your stay in Italy; you won't be disappointed. First class service and first class properties! Jackie Morgan2024-10-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service , prompt and efficient responses to enquiries . Villa was just what we wanted for a family holiday , and Fiona was a great asset ! Thanks Joy2024-09-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have just spent a fabulous week in Villa Speracedes booked with Bookings for You. Bookings for You provided excellent communication with us both prior to and during the trip to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible for us. The apartment was great: comfortable, very well equipped and the terrace was fabulous with a seating area for meal times, comfortable loungers to relax on and down the steps, loungers beside the pool. All having magnificent views across the valleys. Highly recommended! Rob Aherne2024-09-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fabulous stay in Villa Assisi - a big villa with private pool in a hotel resort complex. It was very peaceful, despite a very central location, and the pool was a fantastic luxury given the super-hot temperatures. We were able to use the hotel facilities, such as the tennis court and bicycles, as well, so it felt like the best of both worlds. We were well looked after by Bookings for You too. Highly recommended. evan sohun2024-08-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An amazing place. Had such a great stay with my family and the hosts were so helpful all along. Thank you! Diane Safran2024-08-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The villa is Beautiful. The staff wonderful especially the chef and Benne. Daniela is a wonderful host. Our family had a wonderful time Thank you Ella Jones2024-08-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! We had the most amazing holiday at Golfo Gabella on Lake Maggiore and will definitely be rebooking for next year 😊
Marche is a relatively unknown Italian regi0n. Situated in central Italy, its capital and largest city is Ancona. Its eastern border hits the Adriatic Sea. Inland, it is bordered by Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo. It also has a border with the republic of San Marino. Much of its landscape is characterised by undulating rolling hills, peppered with picturesque Medieval hilltop tops, row upon row of vines and olive trees, all leading down to its breathtaking eastern coastline.
It is a region that remains undiscovered by mass tourism. Le Marche is where you can very much enjoy a crowd-free holiday in Italy. It really is an opportunity to discover a truly unspoilt, authentic side to the country.
Le Marche’s capital city, Ancona, is not actually one of the first places we would suggest you visit in Le Marche. Sadly, much was destroyed by bombing during WWII. But, nevertheless it is still worthy of a visit.
That said, we would instead suggest you head first to Urbino. This city was of huge cultural significance during the Renaissance period. The birthplace of Raphael, it is still viewed today as the perfect example of an ‘ideal city’, with its perfectly preserved and extremely attractive centre set inside historic walls. It is home to a number of important religious buildings and museums, some of which can be found in the Palazzo Ducale which dominates the city.
Other towns and villages in Le Marche well worth exploring include the Roman town of Fermo, Offida, San Ginesio, Gradara, Grottamare, Loreto, Ripatransone, Mondavio, Corinaldo, Ascoli Piceno, Amandola and Sirolo. Six of these have also earned themselves the title of borghi piu belli.
Discover more about the towns and villages of Le Marche in our A to Z guide to Le Marche.
There are so many things to do in Le Marche. Of course, there are so many wonderful towns and cities in Le Marche to explore. However, much of the enjoyment is also the drive to get you from one to another. Marche is a wonderfully rural region and has an abundance of spectacular landscapes to admire.
The first of these is the Furlo Gorge. This is a rather spectacular ravine that has been cut through the Apennine Mountains by the River Candigliano. The favourite spot Italian dictator, Mussolini, he liked it so much that he had an enormous profile of his face carved into the cliffs on the northern side of the gorge. Following his death, his stone face was blown up by partisans, however, parts are still distinctly visible.
Marche also boasts four main national parks – the Sibillini Mountains National Park, the Conero National Park, the Monte San Bartolo Regional Park and the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Park. The region really is beautiful with an abundance of mountains, streams, woods, forests, hills, rivers and gorges to explore. In short, it’s perfect for those who love the great outdoors. Whether you choose to explore on foot, on two wheels, on horseback or via other means, you won’t be disappointed!
This rural backdrop has also ensured that, like its neighbours Tuscany and Umbria, Le Marche is similarly renowned for its food. For example, this is another Italian region where you can enjoy truffles. Acqualagna’s annual Autumn truffle fair is second only to that in Alba in Piedmont.
Le Marche is also a region renowned for its traditional craftsmanship. Fabriano was once the most important centre for paper production in Europe. And a visit to the town today will still provide you with an opportunity to learn about how the paper is produced and the history of paper making here. Similarly, the region is also famous for its pottery and the centre of the Italian maiolica pottery production in Marche is Urbania. And Offida is famous for its lace production.
But we must not forget about Le Marche’s stunning coastline either. The region can boast approximately 180 km of coastline along its Eastern border and this is home to the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in Italy. Some of our favourite beaches include Mezzavalle, Due Sorelle (which is part of a nature reserve and accessible only by sea), Spiaggia del Passetto in Ancona and Grottammare.
Finally, there is plenty to explore beneath your feet when you visit Le Marche too. The Grotte di Frasassi is the third largest underground cave system in the world. It’s a fascinating collection of caves, underground lakes, stalactites and pillars. Just to put some perspective on it, its largest cave – Grotto Grande del Vento – is cavernous enough to accommodate the Duomo of Milan. And in Osimo, there are 9 km of underground tunnels, parts of which can be explored. These originated in pre Roman times but the evidence of their use by Franciscan monks is what is more interesting to see today.
Get inspired about what to see and do on your next Le Marche holiday in our guide to the top 60 things to do in Le Marche on our blog.
We love Le Marche in every season. Whatever time of year you visit, there are plenty of events and festivals to enjoy. One of those that takes place in the Summer is in Senigallia. Here the Summer Jamboree, a two-week event celebrating American culture from the forties and fifties, sees people dressed in vintage clothing, dancing and singing into the early hours. Also in peak Summer, is the Quintana of Ascoli Piceno, a much more traditional jousting festival.
These particular festivals certainly provide plenty of reasons to enjoy a holiday in Le Marche in the Summer. The abundance of Summer sunshine is another reason to visit in July or August so that you can enjoy the wonderful beaches and water sports on offer.
However, if you are looking to be more active inland, you may prefer to visit in the shoulder season. Temperatures in the Spring and Autumn are perfect for sightseeing, hiking and other outdoor pursuits.
There is equally something special about Le Marche in the Winter months too. The run up to Christmas it is certainly particularly special, with some wonderful events worth participating in. The first is in Candelara which hosts ‘Candles in Candelara’ each year whilst the second is in Genga. Here, at the Tempietto del Valadier, a small church dug into the side of the cliffs, locals host a live nativity. This has grown over the past 30 years. With over 300 actors taking part to bring this miraculous event to life, it now claims to be the largest living nativity anywhere in the world.