Italy is made up of 20 regions, each with distinctive characteristics. Here, you’ll get an overview of Le Marche to get you started on planning a Le Marche trip.
While generations of travelers descend upon Tuscany, all trying to find something that feels untouched by all those previous generations, Le Marche has just been hanging out slightly to the east and almost completely under the radar.
Le Marche has quite a bit in common with Tuscany and Umbria – including rolling hills, many of which have Medieval villages atop them – but there are far fewer tourists in this region. And that may be just what you’re looking for.
Le Marche doesn’t look particularly small on a map, but it’s the sixth-smallest in Italy, with the eighth-smallest population. The beaches along the Adriatic Sea are popular with Italians during the summer months – Rimini is one of the most famous seaside resort towns in Europe. Much of the coast, including the capital city of Ancona, is easily reached by train.
Beyond that, however, it’s tough to get around Le Marche without a car, thanks in large part to how much of the region is mountainous. There are some regional bus lines, but this is one of the regions where it’s incredibly handy to have access to your own set of wheels. Not even the UNESCO city of Urbino has a train station.
Still, if you’re looking for a region to get away from the crowds trying to find their piece of the Tuscan sun, you could do worse than to explore Le Marche. Strap on your hiking boots and get acquainted with Italy’s great outdoors. Wander through pretty hill towns that you probably have never heard of but are no less charming because of their relative anonymity. And, in summer, hit the beach with the rest of the Italians to really feel like a local.
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