What to discover

A guide curated by the family who lives the Piceno every day. Hilltop villages above the sea, organic wineries, trails in the Sibillini and trattorias where time stands still: the places we truly recommend to our guests, gathered in a map you can take with you.

• Montalto delle Marche — Sisto V's "Dearest Homeland"

  The Village of Pope Sixtus V

  Our village, cradle of one of the most powerful Popes of the Renaissance, who left here priceless treasures and a title of "city" that governed 17 towns.

  Perched among the gentle hills of the Piceno, between the Adriatic coast and the Sibillini Mountains, Montalto is the "dearest homeland" of Felice Peretti, who became Pope Sisto V in 1585, the "tough Pope" who in just five years reorganized the Papal States and redrew the face of Rome. Deeply attached to his homeland, he granted Montalto economic privileges and the status of capital of the "Presidato Sistino", a territory that included 17 towns. Arriving, you are welcomed by Piazza Sisto V, the monumental heart of the village, overlooked by the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (which the Pope wanted so strongly that he had an entire hill levelled for it) and the Palazzo of his sister Camilla, today home to the Museo Sistino. In 1986 the great sculptor Pericle Fazzini, born in Grottammare, dedicated a bronze sculpture to his fellow countryman — his last work before he died.

  Don't miss

  • Piazza Sisto V and the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
  • The Museo Sistino Vescovile with the extraordinary Reliquiario
  • The Romanesque Chiesa di Santa Maria in Viminatu (Patrignone hamlet)
  • The fourteenth-century Torrione and the Cripta di Santa Lucia (Porchia hamlet)
  • The famous Mulino Fortificato di Sisto V in the Valdaso hamlet

  Distance

  a few minutes from the farmhouse

  Address

  Piazza Sisto V, 63068 Montalto delle Marche (AP)

  Phone

  +393319953625

  Official site

  https://visitmontaltomarche.it

• The Reliquiario di Sisto V — Museo Sistino Vescovile

  The Village of Pope Sixtus V

  One of the most important goldsmithing masterpieces in the world, passed from the kings of France to the Popes of Rome, and donated by Sisto V to his native village.

  Housed in the Museo Sistino Vescovile, on the second floor of the eighteenth-century Seminario facing the Cattedrale, the Reliquiario of Montalto is a heirloom of inestimable value. Probably made in a Parisian goldsmith's workshop active for the French royal house at the end of the 14th century (attributed to Jean du Vivier), it depicts the deposed Christ held up by an angel, embellished with eight sapphires, twenty rubies, nineteen amethysts, an emerald, a sardonyx cameo and fifty-eight pearls set in gold, using the extremely rare "en ronde bosse" enamel technique. It appears in the inventory of the Treasury of Charles V of France (1364-1380), then passed to Frederick IV of Habsburg, then to the Este family and finally to Cardinal Pietro Barbo (the future Paolo II). In 1587 Sisto V took it from the Vatican Treasury and donated it to Montalto. In 1798 the people of Montalto went so far as to surround the Cattedrale, ringing the bells in alarm, to prevent Napoleonic soldiers from taking it away: it was saved by paying a ransom in silver.

  Don't miss

  • The Reliquiario di Sisto V, an absolute masterpiece of Gothic goldsmithing
  • The collection of Sistine coins and medals (over 100 pieces)
  • The 13th-century Christus Patiens and the papal vestments

  Please note: The museum building was damaged by the 2016 earthquake and some works may be temporarily not on display or away for restoration/loan. We recommend checking opening hours and the availability of the Reliquiario before visiting.

  Distance

  a few minutes from the farmhouse

  Address

  Palazzo del Seminario, Piazza Sisto V, 63068 Montalto delle Marche (AP)

  Phone

  +393473804444

  Official site

  https://www.museisistini.it

• Mulino Fortificato di Sisto V — the Pope's "Mint"

  The Village of Pope Sixtus V

  One of the very rare surviving examples of a fortified mill in the Marche, run by the future Pope's family and even turned into a papal mint.

  Immersed among the orchards of the middle Valle dell'Aso, in contrada Maglio, this imposing sandstone-and-brick tower is one of the most surprising places in the area. Documented as early as before 1320, from 1567 to 1572 it was run by the Peretti family, in particular by Camilla, sister of the future Sisto V. It is also known as the "Zecca di Sisto V" (Sisto V's Mint), although it was actually used as a mint only for a brief period in 1797, under Pio VI. The structure is laid out on three levels: at the base, the three channels that housed the water wheels driven by the Aso river; the milling floor, reached via a drawbridge; and the upper floor with the old sentry walk. The musket loopholes, the row of machicolations and the characteristic battlements are still clearly visible today. Above the entrance, a sandstone coat of arms shows the crossed keys and the five mountains topped by the palm, Sistine emblems. It is the only mill in the Marche to have also been a papal mint.

  Don't miss

  • The fortified tower with battlements, machicolations and loopholes
  • The ancient millstones still in place on the milling floor
  • The Sistine coat of arms in sandstone above the entrance
  • The walk among the orchards of the Valle dell'Aso

  Distance

  a few km, in the Valle dell'Aso (Valdaso hamlet)

  Address

  Contrada Maglio, 63068 Montalto delle Marche (AP)

  Note

  Guided visits and nature outings with local AIGAE guides can be arranged. Ask us at the farmhouse.

• Offida — the village of lace

  Piceno Villages

  One of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, where women still hand-make ancient bobbin lace, in an almost Fellini-esque atmosphere.

  Perched on a spur between two valleys, Offida is a small masterpiece suspended in time, famous the world over for the art of bobbin lace. Along Corso Serpente Aureo you can still occasionally see the "merlettaie" (lacemakers) weaving their bobbins with gestures passed down from generation to generation. The heart of the village is the scenic, triangular Piazza del Popolo, dominated by the Palazzo Comunale with its loggia and tower. The symbolic monument is the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Rocca, a Romanesque-Gothic jewel from the 14th century on a panoramic spur overlooking the badlands, with a crypt frescoed to extraordinary beauty. Offida is also the capital of a historic Carnival and land of great DOCG wines.

  Don't miss

  • The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Rocca and the frescoed crypt
  • Piazza del Popolo and the Palazzo Comunale with its loggia
  • The Museo del Merletto a Tombolo (live demonstrations)
  • The Teatro Serpente Aureo
  • The wine bars for tasting Offida DOCG (Pecorino, Passerina, Rosso)

  Distance

  about 15 km (20 minutes)

  Address

  Piazza del Popolo, 63073 Offida (AP)

  Phone

  +393341547890

  Opening hours

  Museo del Merletto: every day 10am-1pm and 3-7:30pm

  Note

  Museum: Via Roma 17. Associazione Il Merletto: Corso Serpente Aureo 2 — +39 329 704 3979.

• Ripatransone — the "Belvedere del Piceno"

  Piceno Villages

  From the spur, on clear days, the eye takes in the Adriatic Sea and the peaks of the Sibillini in a single glance. Home to the narrowest alley in Italy.

  Elegant and aristocratic, Ripatransone is nicknamed the "Belvedere del Piceno" for its exceptional panoramic position: from the highest point the view sweeps from the hills down to the sea on one side and across to the Sibillini range on the other — one of the widest panoramas in the Marche, magical at dawn and dusk. The village preserves a refined historic centre, rich in noble palaces and churches that earned it the title of "città" as far back as the 16th century. Among its curiosities is the narrowest alley in Italy, barely fifty centimetres wide. It is also one of the seats of the Musei Sistini del Piceno and is known for the Cavallo di Fuoco, a fireworks spectacle held on the Sunday after Easter.

  Don't miss

  • The Belvedere del Piceno with its view over sea and mountains
  • The narrowest alley in Italy
  • The Cattedrale and the historic palaces of the centre
  • The Museo Diocesano (a seat of the Musei Sistini)

  Distance

  about 18 km (25 minutes)

  Address

  63065 Ripatransone (AP)

  Note

  Climb up to the Belvedere in the late afternoon, with the light raking across the landscape.

• Grottammare Alta — Sisto V's seafaring village

  Piceno Villages

  An enchanting medieval nucleus perched above the sea, birthplace of Pope Sisto V, with one of the most photographed views of the coast.

  Among the most beautiful seafaring villages on the entire Adriatic coast, Grottammare Alta is a perfectly preserved medieval jewel. Here, on 13 December 1521, Felice Peretti was born — the future Pope Sisto V — in a house near which his sister Camilla later had the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista built (where the Pope was baptized) and the Chiesa di Santa Lucia, designed by the architect Domenico Fontana to celebrate the Pontiff's birth. The heart of the village is Piazza Peretti, with its Loggia, the small Teatro dell'Arancio and the tower. From here and from its arches you enjoy an extraordinary view over the Adriatic, one of the most iconic images of the Marche. Below, modern Grottammare is a lively seaside resort, awarded the Bandiera Blu.

  Don't miss

  • Piazza Peretti and the sea view from the arches
  • Sisto V's birth house and the Sistine churches
  • The Teatro dell'Arancio and the Loggia
  • Sunset from the belvedere of the upper village

  Distance

  about 30 km (35 minutes)

  Address

  Piazza Peretti, 63066 Grottammare (AP)

  Note

  Park in the lower part of town and walk up to the old village towards sunset.

• Torre di Palme — the balcony over the Adriatic

  Piceno Villages

  A tiny medieval village perched sheer above the sea, amid flower-lined lanes and ancient churches, with a breathtaking panorama.

  A hillside hamlet of Fermo, Torre di Palme is one of the most enchanting and best-preserved villages in the Marche, a small medieval jewel overlooking the Adriatic from a sheer cliff. The neat, flower-filled cobbled lanes lead to churches rich in artistic treasures (such as the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino with its polyptych by Vittore Crivelli) and to a spectacular belvedere from which the view runs along the whole coast, as far as Monte Conero on clear days. It is also the starting point for the evocative trail through the Bosco del Cugnolo, a rare example of untouched Mediterranean scrub on the Adriatic shoreline, tied to the romantic legend of two lovers.

  Don't miss

  • The belvedere over the Adriatic and the flower-lined lanes
  • The Chiesa di Sant'Agostino with the polyptych by Vittore Crivelli
  • The nature trail through the Bosco del Cugnolo
  • The Museo Archeologico

  Distance

  about 35 km (40 minutes)

  Address

  63900 Torre di Palme, Fermo (FM)

• Acquaviva Picena — the Fortezza and the pajarole

  Piceno Villages

  Dominated by one of the most beautiful medieval fortresses in the Marche, with walkways and towers offering views all the way to the sea.

  Acquaviva Picena announces itself from afar with the imposing silhouette of its medieval Fortezza, a masterpiece of military architecture among the best preserved in the region, in its current form designed by Baccio Pontelli in the 15th century. Open to visitors along its sentry walks, cylindrical towers and keep, it offers a magnificent view from above over the Tronto valley and the sea, and houses a museum of arms and exhibits on village life. The town, gathered at the foot of the stronghold, is famous for a unique ancient craft tradition: the "pajarole", baskets and objects hand-woven from straw and willow.

  Don't miss

  • The medieval Fortezza with its walkways and towers
  • The arms museum inside the fort
  • The panoramic view over the Tronto valley and the sea
  • The craft workshops of the "pajarole"

  Distance

  about 25 km (30 minutes)

  Address

  Piazza del Forte 1, 63075 Acquaviva Picena (AP)

  Phone

  +390735764005

  Opening hours

  Mon-Tue 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-12:30pm and 3-6pm (closed Wed-Thu; check seasonal hours)

  Note

  Leave the car in the public car park below the fortress and walk up.

• Montedinove — spirituality and the Middle Ages

  Piceno Villages

  A small medieval jewel among the most authentic villages of the Piceno, tied to one of the most fascinating stories in English history.

  Perched on a panoramic ridge just a few kilometres from Montalto, Montedinove is a quiet, close-knit village that has preserved its medieval character intact. Worth seeing are the Porta della Vittoria and the ancient walls, but the real draw, just outside the village, is the Convento di San Tommaso: a place of great Franciscan spirituality tied to the medieval story of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury murdered in 1170, and to the mystery of his relics. Still today a destination for pilgrims, even from Abruzzo, the convent offers peace, quiet contemplation and a splendid view over the hills of the Piceno.

  Don't miss

  • The Convento di San Tommaso and the story tied to Thomas Becket
  • The Porta della Vittoria and the medieval walls
  • The panorama over the hills of the Piceno

  Distance

  about 5 km (10 minutes)

  Address

  63069 Montedinove (AP)

  Phone

  +390736829449

• Ascoli Piceno — the city of travertine

  Art Cities

  One of the most beautiful cities in central Italy, entirely carved from travertine, with one of the most harmonious Renaissance squares in Europe.

  Nicknamed the "city of a hundred towers" and the "Lady of Travertine", Ascoli Piceno is an urban masterpiece set between the Tronto and Castellano rivers. Its heart is Piazza del Popolo, Italy's "Salotto": a perfect rectangle paved in pale travertine slabs (which turn into a mirror after rain), framed by a Renaissance loggia of 59 arches and dominated by the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo and the Gothic Chiesa di San Francesco. On one corner shines the historic Caffè Meletti, a Liberty-style jewel open since 1907, where Sartre and Trilussa once sat to enjoy Anisetta Meletti "corretta" with the "mosca" (a coffee bean floating in the glass). A short distance away is Piazza Arringo, the oldest square, with the Cattedrale di Sant'Emidio (the Polittico by Carlo Crivelli, 1473). Ascoli is pure gastronomy: this is the birthplace of the oliva all'ascolana, the heart of the "fritto misto".

  Don't miss

  • Piazza del Popolo and the Renaissance loggia of 59 arches
  • An Anisetta with the "mosca" at the historic Caffè Meletti
  • The Cattedrale di Sant'Emidio with the Polittico by Crivelli
  • The Chiostro di San Francesco and the "rue" of the old town
  • Handmade olive all'ascolana, warm, at the eateries in the centre
  • In summer: the Quintana, a costumed knightly tournament

  Distance

  about 35 km (40 minutes)

  Address

  Piazza del Popolo, 63100 Ascoli Piceno

  Note

  The centre is a limited-traffic zone. Recommended car parks: Saba Torricella or Porta Cartara. Avoid Wednesday and Saturday morning (market day).

• Fermo — the millenary city and the Sala del Mappamondo

  Art Cities

  A city of art on the Girfalco hill: a dreamlike 17th-century library, a two-metre globe and the largest surviving Roman cisterns.

  The ancient Firmum Picenum, a Roman colony from 264 BC, Fermo climbs elegantly up the Girfalco hill between the Adriatic Sea and the Sibillini Mountains. Its drawing room is Piazza del Popolo, enclosed between two long rows of loggias and dominated by the Palazzo dei Priori, on whose facade stands the bronze statue of Pope Sisto V, who was Bishop of Fermo. Inside the palazzo is hidden the Sala del Mappamondo, a splendid library founded in 1688, with walnut shelving and about 15,000 antique volumes. At its centre stands a giant wooden globe almost two metres in diameter, made from Fabriano paper by the cartographer Amanzio Moroncelli in 1713. The Pinacoteca houses Rubens's Adorazione dei pastori (1608). Beneath the city stretch the Roman Cisterns from the Augustan age, 30 chambers over 2,200 square metres, among the largest in the world.

  Don't miss

  • The Sala del Mappamondo and the Biblioteca Spezioli
  • Rubens's Adorazione dei pastori in the Pinacoteca
  • The underground Roman Cisterns
  • The Girfalco hill, the Cattedrale and the sea view
  • The Teatro dell'Aquila

  Distance

  about 40 km (45 minutes)

  Address

  Piazza del Popolo, 63900 Fermo

  Phone

  +390734217140

  Opening hours

  Single combined museum ticket: full €9, reduced €7. Evening openings 8pm-midnight on Thursdays in July and August.

  Note

  For the Cisterne, bring a jacket (damp environment).

• Macerata — the city of opera

  Art Cities

  An elegant university city enclosed within historic walls, capital of opera thanks to its Sferisterio and a centre rich in art.

  Set on a hill between the Potenza and Chienti rivers, Macerata is a refined city of art, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. The historic centre, pedestrianized and enclosed by 16th-century walls, revolves around Piazza della Libertà, with the Loggia dei Mercanti and the Torre dei Tempi. The cultural heart is Palazzo Buonaccorsi, a splendid Baroque palace housing the Musei Civici with the Galleria dell'Eneide. In summer the Sferisterio turns the city into the capital of opera, while concerts, exhibitions and cultural aperitivi enliven the whole centre.

  Don't miss

  • The Sferisterio and its summer opera season
  • Palazzo Buonaccorsi and the Musei Civici
  • Piazza della Libertà, the Loggia dei Mercanti and the Torre
  • The pedestrian historic centre

  Distance

  about 60 km (1h drive)

  Address

  62100 Macerata

• Sferisterio di Macerata — Macerata Opera Festival

  Culture & Major Events

  One of the most evocative open-air opera arenas in the world, with legendary acoustics, under the summer stars.

  Built in the 19th century originally for the game of "pallone col bracciale", the Sferisterio is today one of the most spectacular open-air theatres in Italy and home to one of the most important opera festivals in Europe. Its monumental neoclassical architecture, with a stage almost ninety metres wide, and its extraordinary acoustics create a unique experience: watching an opera here, under the summer starry sky, is something that stays in your heart. In 2026, for the 62nd edition (17 July to 9 August), the programme features Verdi's Nabucco (new production), Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Il Trovatore in Negrin's "fiery" staging, and Orff's Carmina Burana. The festival dedicates special "Anteprime giovani" evenings to under-30s. At the end of summer the Sferisterio changes face with "Sferisterio Live+", hosting major names in music.

  Don't miss

  • An evening of opera under the stars (performances at 9:00pm)
  • The Anteprime giovani for under-30s (heavily discounted tickets)
  • The "Sferisterio Live+" concerts at the end of summer

  Distance

  about 60 km (1h drive)

  Address

  Piazza Nazario Sauro, 62100 Macerata

  Phone

  +390733230735

  Official site

  https://www.sferisterio.it

  Opening hours

  2026 prices: from €15 (Balconata) to €200 (Platino). 20% discounts for under-30s and over-65s.

  Note

  Box office: Piazza Mazzini 10, Macerata. Book well in advance. Bring a cushion for the stone-seat sections.

• Pedaso and the Lungomare dei Cantautori

  Sea & Beaches

  A small, colourful, sunlit fishing village, with quiet beaches and a seafront promenade among rocks with curious names.

  Nestled between the mouth of the Aso river and the headland that separates it from Campofilone, Pedaso is a pretty, lively fishing village, bright and human-scaled. The beach, part sand and part pebbles, is quiet and never too crowded, with wide stretches of free beach and clean waters. The most charming stretch is the Lungomare dei Cantautori, a scenic promenade where the natural rocks emerging from the sea have over time taken on curious, whimsical names. From here you can enjoy lovely walks along the coast towards Campofilone and Marina di Altidona.

  Don't miss

  • The Lungomare dei Cantautori and its scenic rocks
  • Walks along the coast towards Campofilone
  • The free beach and the small harbour

  Distance

  about 30 km (35 minutes)

  Address

  63827 Pedaso (FM)

• Ponte Nina (Campofilone) — the sea for families

  Sea & Beaches

  A beach with a very shallow, sandy seabed, ideal for children, with excellent beach chalets serving fresh fish.

  A seaside spot between Pedaso and Marina di Altidona, Ponte Nina is particularly loved by families for its very shallow, safe seabed, which slopes gently for many metres: children can play in the water in complete safety. The beach alternates equipped bathing establishments with wide stretches of free beach, with convenient parking right in front. The sea here is clean and clear all the way to the breakwaters. A lovely cycle path runs along the coast, connecting the seaside villages. There are excellent beach chalets and fish restaurants on site.

  Don't miss

  • The shallow seabed, perfect for the little ones
  • The seafront cycle path
  • A fresh fish dinner at one of the beach chalets

  Distance

  about 32 km (35 minutes)

  Address

  Località Ponte Nina, 63861 Campofilone (FM)

  Phone

  +393534695558

  Note

  Landmark on the beach: Chalet Nina, open all day in season.

• Porto San Giorgio — sea, nightlife and brodetto

  Sea & Beaches

  A lively seaside town with the Bandiera Blu, with an elegant promenade full of venues and a great fish tradition.

  Elegant and lively, Porto San Giorgio is one of the main seaside resorts on the Fermo coast, awarded the Bandiera Blu. The wide, tree-lined Lungomare Gramsci is a succession of bathing establishments, bars, restaurants and shops, enlivened in every season by events, festivals and markets. The sandy beach is perfect for families, while the large marina is one of the most important on the Adriatic. Above the town stands the Rocca Tiepolo, a medieval fortress with a sea view. The gastronomy revolves around fish: not to be missed are the famous Brodetto sangiorgese, Adriatic clams and the typical dessert "Amandovolo".

  Don't miss

  • The Lungomare Gramsci amid venues and bathing establishments
  • The Rocca Tiepolo with its sea view
  • The Brodetto sangiorgese at a typical restaurant
  • The marina and the evening strolls

  Distance

  about 35 km (40 minutes)

  Address

  63822 Porto San Giorgio (FM)

  Phone

  +390734684868

  Official site

  https://portosangiorgioturismo.it

• San Benedetto del Tronto — the Riviera delle Palme

  Sea & Beaches

  Over 1,800 palm trees along 18 km of promenade, amid themed gardens, award-winning beaches and a holiday atmosphere.

  The largest and most famous seaside resort in the Piceno, San Benedetto del Tronto is famous for the Riviera delle Palme: a very long promenade adorned with over 1,800 palm trees, themed gardens, well-kept flowerbeds and works of art. Walking or cycling amid the greenery and the blue of the sea instantly lifts your mood. The beach, wide and sandy, is very well equipped and awarded the Bandiera Blu and Bandiera Verde. The centre is lively, with shops, fish restaurants and a characteristic market on Tuesdays and Fridays. Worth seeing is the Paese Alto, the historic nucleus that watches over the city from above, and the fishing harbour.

  Don't miss

  • The palm-lined promenade, on foot or by bike
  • The Paese Alto (the panoramic historic nucleus)
  • The fishing harbour and the seafood cuisine
  • The equipped beaches, ideal for families

  Distance

  about 40 km (45 minutes)

  Address

  Viale Europa, 63074 San Benedetto del Tronto (AP)

• Pizzeria 4 Venti — Montalto delle Marche

  Where to Eat

  Considered by many the best pizza in the area, with an extremely light dough and honest prices.

  Just a few minutes from the farmhouse, Pizzeria 4 Venti is a local institution loved by residents and tourists alike. The secret is an extremely light, thin dough, truly easy to digest, cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is convivial and informal, with a large indoor room and an outdoor space, ideal for a dinner with friends or family (they also handle large groups well). Besides the pizza menu they also serve first courses. Friendly staff, affordable prices. Finish with the homemade tiramisù.

  Don't miss

  • The pizzas with their thin, light dough
  • The homemade tiramisù
  • The starters and house specialities

  Distance

  a few minutes (in Montalto)

  Address

  Contrada Fonte Arrigo 45, 63068 Montalto delle Marche (AP)

  Phone

  +390736828352

  Opening hours

  Tue-Sun 12:00-2:00pm and 7:00-10:00pm (closed Mondays)

• Mamma Rosa — Ortezzano

  Where to Eat

  One of the best Neapolitan pizzas in the Marche, wood-fired, in a warm venue that also runs pizza-making courses.

  In a characterful venue set in the countryside of Ortezzano, Mamma Rosa bakes some of the best Neapolitan pizzas in the whole region. The dough, cooked in a wood-fired oven, is light, tall at the rim and highly digestible, in the best Neapolitan tradition. Warm atmosphere, friendly service, excellent beer selection. A special touch: they organize pizza-making workshops with the master pizzaiolo, a fun experience perfect for foreign guests too. Try the special and seasonal pizzas, including excellent vegan options, and the famous peach pizza in season.

  Don't miss

  • The wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas
  • The pizza-making workshops with the master
  • The beer selection and the seasonal special pizzas

  Distance

  about 8 km (15 minutes)

  Address

  Contrada Aso 62, 63851 Ortezzano (FM)

  Phone

  +390734770194

  Opening hours

  open evenings 7:00pm-midnight (closed Wednesdays)

• Hotel Ristorante Roma — Petritoli

  Where to Eat

  A historic trattoria with an authentic atmosphere, loved for its genuine Marche cuisine at unbeatable prices.

  In the village of Petritoli, the Hotel Ristorante Roma is one of those authentic trattorias that tell the true soul of Marche cuisine. Genuine and unpretentious, it is much loved by locals and by a loyal international clientele (especially English and northern European) who return here year after year. The cooking is traditional, "just like grandma's": generous portions, excellent maccheroncini al ragù, sausage and grilled meats, homemade pasta. Unbeatable value for money, with an excellent selection of local wines such as Rosso Piceno Superiore.

  Don't miss

  • The maccheroncini al ragù
  • The sausage and grilled meats
  • A bottle of the house Rosso Piceno Superiore

  Distance

  about 20 km (25 minutes)

  Address

  Petritoli (FM)

  Phone

  +390734658248

  Opening hours

  lunch 12:00-2:45pm and dinner 8:00-10:00pm (Sunday lunch only)

• Ristorante Borgo Antico — Grottammare Alta

  Where to Eat

  Refined cuisine with a panoramic terrace in the heart of the old village, for a dinner with a sea view.

  Tucked among the lanes of Grottammare's evocative upper village, the Ristorante Borgo Antico is the right address for a special, perhaps romantic, dinner. Its strong point is the terrace overlooking the medieval village and the sea, with a panorama that turns magical at sunset. The cuisine is refined and carefully prepared, spanning both sea and land: among the most popular dishes are cappellacci al tartufo and paccheri al baccalà, as well as excellent grilled meat platters. Friendly service, elegant yet relaxed atmosphere.

  Don't miss

  • The panoramic terrace over the sea at sunset
  • The cappellacci al tartufo and paccheri al baccalà
  • Pairing dinner with a walk through the old village

  Distance

  about 30 km (35 minutes)

  Address

  Via Santa Lucia 2, 63066 Grottammare (AP)

  Phone

  +390735634357

  Opening hours

  every day 12:30-3:00pm and 7:30-11:00pm

• Cantina Ciù Ciù — Offida

  Wine & Flavours

  A historic organic winery of the Piceno, among the most awarded, with tastings among the vines and a showroom in the heart of Offida.

  In the countryside of Offida, in contrada Ciafone, the Cantina Ciù Ciù is one of the best-known wine producers of the Piceno, specializing in organic and biodynamic production. The family produces some of the territory's signature wines: the Offida Rosso DOCG "Gotico", Pecorino, Passerina, and the Rosso Piceno Superiore "Esperanto", often multi-award-winning. The winery welcomes visitors for guided tastings, with professional explanations of the grape varieties and production methods, in an evocative setting among the vine rows. For those who don't want to venture out of the village, there is also a showroom-wine shop right in Piazza del Popolo in Offida.

  Don't miss

  • The guided tasting at the winery among the vines
  • The Offida Rosso "Gotico" DOCG and the Pecorino
  • The showroom in Piazza del Popolo in Offida

  Distance

  about 20 km (25 minutes)

  Address

  Contrada Ciafone 106, 63073 Offida (AP)

  Phone

  +390736810001

  Opening hours

  Winery: Mon-Sat 8:30am-12:30pm and 2:30-6:30pm (closed Sunday).

  Note

  Showroom: Piazza del Popolo 20, Offida — +39 0736 618024. Book the tasting in advance.

• The wines of the Piceno — Rosso Piceno, Pecorino and Passerina

  Wine & Flavours

  The Piceno is a land of great DOC and DOCG wines: an oenological heritage to discover winery by winery.

  The hills surrounding the farmhouse are a veritable garden of vineyards, cradle of some of the finest wines in the Marche. The territory boasts important denominations: Rosso Piceno and Rosso Piceno Superiore (Montepulciano and Sangiovese), Offida DOCG in its Rosso, Pecorino and Passerina versions, and Falerio. Many wineries, large and small, open their doors for visits and tastings, often pairing the wines with local cured meats, cheeses and extra-virgin olive oil. It's an opportunity to get to know the farming culture of this land and take home a few bottles.

  Don't miss

  • A tasting of Rosso Piceno Superiore and Offida Pecorino DOCG
  • The pairing of wine with local cured meats and cheeses
  • The extra-virgin olive oil of the Piceno

  Distance

  various wineries between 10 and 25 km away

  Note

  Ask us at the farmhouse: we'll be happy to point you to the winery best suited to your taste and help you book.

• Monti Sibillini — Lago di Pilato

  Nature & Hiking

  One of the most fascinating and legendary glacial lakes of the Apennines, at over 1,900 metres of altitude.

  In the heart of the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, the Lago di Pilato is one of the most striking natural destinations in central Italy. Set in a glacial cirque among the highest peaks of the massif, this body of water with its distinctive "spectacles" shape is wrapped in centuries of legend: it is said that the body of Pontius Pilate was thrown here, and the area was once feared as a haunt of necromancers, tied to the myth of the Sibilla Appenninica. The lake holds a small biological treasure unique in the world: the Chirocefalo del Marchesoni, a tiny coral-red crustacean that lives exclusively in these waters. Reaching it requires a demanding hike (several hours' walk from the high-altitude starting points), but the view rewards every effort.

  Don't miss

  • The glacial lake shaped like "spectacles" and the high-altitude panoramas
  • The extremely rare Chirocefalo del Marchesoni
  • The legendary atmosphere of the Sibilla

  Distance

  about 1h30 drive to the starting points (Foce di Montemonaco)

  Note

  A hike for fit walkers; hiking boots, water and suitable clothing are needed. An environmental guide is strongly recommended.

• Lame Rosse — the "canyon" of the Marche

  Nature & Hiking

  Spires and pinnacles of red rock that look like a corner of Arizona, at the end of a woodland walk near the Lago di Fiastra.

  An unexpected and spectacular landscape, often compared to the canyons of the American West: the Lame Rosse are formations of gravel and reddish clay that wind and water have carved over the centuries into spires, towers and sharp pinnacles, creating a surreal scene. They are reached by a pleasant walk suitable for everyone (about an hour each way) that starts near the dam of the Lago di Fiastra and crosses a lovely shaded wood. The final scene, with the red formations against the green and the sky, is especially striking in the warm light of sunset. The walk can be paired with a stop at the nearby Lago di Fiastra, with its turquoise waters, perfect for a summer swim.

  Don't miss

  • The red rock formations of spires and pinnacles
  • The woodland walk, suitable for families too
  • The Lago di Fiastra for a swim or a picnic

  Distance

  about 1h20 drive

  Address

  Strada Provinciale 91, 62035 Fiastra (MC)

  Note

  Arrive early (before 9am) to find parking. Bring water and comfortable shoes; there are no water points along the trail.

• Gola dell'Infernaccio — Montefortino

  Nature & Hiking

  One of the most spectacular and wild gorges of the Sibillini, amid rock walls, beech woods and the roar of the river.

  The Gola dell'Infernaccio is a deep, striking canyon carved by the Tenna river amid the Sibillini mountains, one of the most beloved and photographed natural sites. The shaded, atmospheric trail winds between high rock walls that in places almost touch, following the river's rushing course among waterfalls, small footbridges and lush vegetation. It is an almost mystical route with several variants: you can continue on to the Eremo di San Leonardo, an evocative stone hermitage built almost entirely by hand by a friar, or climb to the springs of the Tenna. The atmosphere is that of a primordial world, cool even on the hottest days.

  Don't miss

  • The canyon with its rock walls and waterfalls
  • The Eremo di San Leonardo
  • The coolness of the trail along the river

  Please note: The trail may be subject to CLOSURES due to landslides or ground instability. Always check the trail's condition and accessibility before setting out. Bring hiking boots.

  Distance

  about 1h drive

  Address

  63858 Montefortino (FM)

• Santuario della Madonna dell'Ambro — Montefortino

  Nature & Hiking

  The "little Lourdes of the Marche", a sanctuary set in greenery at the foot of the Sibillini, combining spirituality, nature and picnics.

  Set in a splendid natural setting at the foot of the Monti Sibillini, along the valley of the Ambro stream, this Marian sanctuary is one of the oldest and most venerated places of worship in the Marche, nicknamed the "little Lourdes of the Marche". The church, adorned with splendid frescoes, stands in a setting of great peace, surrounded by mountains, woods and lush green meadows. Around the sanctuary are large equipped areas with picnic tables and barbecue spots, as well as springs of fresh water: an ideal destination not only for pilgrims but also for families wanting to spend a day outdoors combining relaxation, spirituality and walks.

  Don't miss

  • The sanctuary and its frescoes
  • The picnic and barbecue areas set in greenery
  • The fresh-water springs and walks in the surroundings

  Distance

  about 1h drive

  Address

  Via del Santuario 1, 63858 Montefortino (FM)

  Phone

  +390736859115

• Grotte di Frasassi — Genga

  Nature & Hiking

  Among the largest and most spectacular karst complexes in Europe: an underground world of stalactites, stalagmites and immense chambers.

  A masterpiece of nature that literally takes your breath away. The Grotte di Frasassi, discovered in 1971, are among the most extensive and extraordinary underground karst systems in Europe. The equipped tourist route leads through breathtaking settings: from the Abisso Ancona, a cavern so vast it could contain Milan's Duomo, to chambers rich with formations bearing evocative names (le Candeline, the Sala delle Cascate del Niagara, the Sala dell'Orsa). The guided visit lasts about 1h15 and follows a comfortable walkway (the inside temperature is a constant 14°C). Suitable for everyone, it can be paired with the pretty village of Genga, the Tempietto del Valadier set into the rock, and the nearby Santuario di Frasassi.

  Don't miss

  • The Abisso Ancona, the great initial cavern
  • The chambers of formations (Candeline, Niagara, Orsa)
  • The Tempietto del Valadier and the village of Genga

  Distance

  about 1h45 drive

  Address

  San Vittore delle Chiuse, 60040 Genga (AN)

  Phone

  +39073290090

  Opening hours

  every day 9:00am-5:00pm (booking recommended in high season)

  Note

  Bring a sweater and comfortable shoes; it's cool inside and the ground can be damp.

• Abbazia di Chiaravalle di Fiastra — Urbisaglia

  Nature & Hiking

  A splendid Cistercian abbey over 900 years old, set within a vast nature reserve, combining history, spirituality and woodland.

  In the heart of a large protected nature reserve, the Abbazia di Chiaravalle di Fiastra is one of the best-preserved Cistercian monastic complexes in Italy, founded in 1142. The abbey church, in Romanesque-Gothic style with its sober, solemn beauty, and the ancient monastic quarters (the cloister, the chapter house) convey a deep sense of peace. But Fiastra's charm also lies in its natural setting: the abbey is surrounded by a vast green area with centuries-old woods (the "Selva"), meadows and trails, ideal for walks, picnics and days outdoors. The complex also houses a museum, farms and spaces for tasting local products.

  Don't miss

  • The Cistercian abbey church and the cloister
  • Walks in the Selva and the meadows for picnics
  • The museum and the local farm products

  Distance

  about 1h drive

  Address

  Contrada Abbadia di Fiastra, 62010 Urbisaglia (MC)

  Phone

  +390733202942

  Opening hours

  every day 10:00am-1:00pm and 3:00-6:00pm (the green area is always accessible)

• Guided excursions — Marche Active Tourism

  Nature & Hiking

  Expert, passionate guides to discover the Sibillini and the natural wonders of the Marche in complete safety.

  For those wishing to explore the region's nature with the assurance of a professional, Marche Active Tourism organizes treks and guided excursions of every level, from easy walks suitable for everyone to the most demanding high-altitude routes. The environmental hiking guides lead the way to destinations such as the Lame Rosse, the Lago di Pilato, the gorges of the Sibillini, Monte Conero and many others, enriching the walk with stories about nature, history, geology and local anecdotes. An excellent solution even for those without experience. They also offer highly appealing themed and evening experiences.

  Don't miss

  • The guided treks to Lame Rosse, Pilato and Conero
  • The themed and evening excursions
  • Tailor-made routes, also for families and beginners

  Distance

  operate throughout the territory (Sibillini and the Marche)

  Phone

  +390733280035

  Note

  Booking recommended. Ask us at the farmhouse and we'll help you organize an excursion during your stay.