Le Marche (the Marches) is an Italian region in the central area of the country. This undulating land is dotted with beautiful valleys and short rivers flowing through. It also has a narrow coastline, as it borders the Adriatic Sea to the east. Visit this famous tourist destination in Italy where the finest Italian footwear is manufactured. See Roman triumphal arches, amazing castles, medieval streets and houses and impressive religious buildings.
The region is divided into the five provinces of Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata and Pesaro e Urbino. The last one, Urbino, is considered one of the main centers of Renaissance art and history in Italy. Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael, was born in Urbino in 1483. He was an Italian painter and architect and is considered one of the greatest masters of the Renaissance, together with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
In Urbino, stop at the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche (National Gallery), located inside the Palazzo Ducale. Here admire one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in the world, including the famous masterpiece by Raphael called La Muta (also called Portrait of a Young Woman). Visit the Casa Santi o Casa Natale di Raffaello, the house where Raphael was born, which is now a museum.
See stunning architecture in Le Marche as well. Marvel at the fine Renaissance square Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno and the impressive engineering work of the archaeological complex of Roman cisterns in Fermo. Take photos of the many beautiful palazzi, such as the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Macerata.
Visit the beautiful chiese (churches) of the region, including the Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo (Fermo Cathedral) and the Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Ciriaco (Ancona Cathedral), with spectacular Romanesque and Gothic elements.
Get to know the Italian region of Le Marche. Enjoy its fine art masterpieces, learn its rich history and become familiar with its charming cities.
