Frassasi grottoes and Gola della Rossa Nature Area

The Frassasi grottoes are at the largest in Europe and well worth a visit.  And a visit is easy from Casa Fontana, as the grottoes are located in the Gola della Rossa Nature Area, which practically borders our garden.  A tour through the grottoes takes about 1 1/2 hours and is nice and refreshing as they are always a cool 14°C. The nature area has many beautiful spots, such as the little village of Genga, and is a great place for a hike, a drive, mountain biking or horseback riding.

Jesi

Jesi is the town closest to Casa Fontana, and has a bustling historic downtown which is ideal for shopping, dining or just going for a drink.  There is also a beautiful old 'Pinacoteca', which displays the city's art collection.  The old town centre is located on a hill and is surrounded by the newer parts of the city.  To get to the old town, it is easiest to follow the signs for 'camperservice' which will bring you to the best free parking lot in the city, where you will find stairs and an elevator to the city centre.  Bar Snoopy has the best coffee and sandwiches.  For a large selection of fresh ice creams, follow the signs to 'Galeria Artiganale' which you will find in the shopping street.

Cupramontana

This is another noteworthy little town in the area.  It feels more like a large village, with a beautiful round historical centre. Cupramontana is especially worth a visit on market day or on a summer evening during a cultural or musical event.  There are several nice little cafes and restaurants and a great wine bar for wine tasting.

Lago di Cingoli

You will reach this refreshing reservoir lake after a beautiful 25 minute drive.  It’s a great place to avoid the crowds, and ideal for a refreshing swim to start or end your day.  For those who decide to stay for the day, there are two small beaches with beach chairs, pedal boats and cafes. Cingoli is a nice little town with lots of events on summer evenings, especially under the shady trees in the lane that leads up to the city gates.  This is where the kids play and the senior citizens dance to live music.  There are some great restaurants in the historical centre and the park boasts an open-air cinema during the summer months.

The beach

It will take you only half an hour to get to the beach from Casa Fontana.  The closest beach for swimming and sunbathing is along the coast of Marzocca.  A bit further north in the direction of Senigallia you will find La Spiagga di Velluto, the velvet beach, with the nicest beach bars and restaurants.

The best beaches of Le Marche are just below Ancona in the natural park of Monte Conero.  Here the cliffs dive straight into the sea, creating a spectacular scenery for hiking and some very pretty beaches for swimming.  Don't forget to stop for ice cream in the picturesque little villages of Sirolo and Numana.  Our favourite beach is in Sirolo.  The road is quite steep and it might be hard to find a parking spot later in the day, but there is also a little shuttle bus from the village.

Monte Conero

Monte Conero is a mountain and a natural park which lies right on the coast and close to Ancona.  A day in Conero can therefore mean using the cool morning hours for shopping in the capital of Le Marche, a siesta on one of the beautiful little beaches and then in the afternoon a scenic tour over the mountain, where you have a great view over the city, the cliffs, the sea and the grapevines of the famous Rosso Conero red wine.

Ancona

This is the capital city of Le Marche, and therefore also the biggest and busiest.  It is especially good for shopping.  Situated on a bay at the Adriatic Sea, and at the foot of Conero Mountain, Ancona makes a perfect destination for a combination of city trip, beach and scenic nature.  The most beautiful beaches are in the 'Parco de Monte Conero'.  Ferries to Greece and Croatia depart from Ancona Harbor, where you will also find the beautiful Lazaretto monument. A nice idea for a city walk is walking up to the War Memorial (Monumento ai Cadutti) were you have a spectacular view over the sea.  There is a little road to the beach right below the monument.  Here you will find many decorated caves where the fishermen keep their boats.

Senigallia

This is a nice beach town, famous for its good fish restaurants and its beautiful 'velvet beach'.  The town centre has a variety of nice shops, cafes and restaurants.  This is also where you will find the hip young crowd you would normally associate with Rome or Milan.

Macerata

This town is known for its 'Sferisterio', an oval shaped open-air theatre which hosts annual music festivals and the well-known opera festival 'Macerata Open'.  It is an interesting town to visit, with a beautiful old cathedral.

Urbino

The most aristocratic city in Le Marche, Urbino flourished in the Renaissance under Duke Federico of Urbino.  The grand Palazzo Ducale is still prominent in the city.  Apart from a visit to this Palazzo, Urbino offers a bustling city centre and the most stylish ice cream parlour we know of in Le Marche.  We once spent the night in our camper van on the parking lot next to the city wall, where we woke up to the beautiful view of the hills around the city.

Gubbio

Gubbio is the most mediaeval town of Umbria, with gorgeous period architecture.  It is a perfect place to shop for mediaeval coats of arms.  It has a beautiful square which is perched on the mountain like a balcony and which offers amazing scenic views.

Assisi

A bit further on in Umbria is Assisi, a picturesque town with many beautiful squares.  This city is well-known for its Basilica di San Francesco, whose two floors are richly decorated by famous artists.

Orvieto

Orvieto lies in the heart of Umbria, in the direction of Rome.  It is a friendly town with a spectacular cathedral, many porcelain shops, restaurants and pavement cafes.  It is situated on top of a rock plateau and can be reached by car or cable car.

San Marino

One of the tiniest countries in the world, San Marino is a popular tourist destination.  A visit is easily combined with a visit to San Leo, a similar town with a similarly spectacular setting.

Ascoli Piceno

Time has stood still in this town in the south of Le Marche.  Many, many centuries can be retraced here.  Blend in by going for a traditional Italian stroll before dinner (the passeggiata) on the lively Piazza del Popolo Square, which is paved with shiny marble.  And don't forget a visit to the famous cafe Meletti.

Rome

It is less than three hours on a coast-to-coast train ride to get to Rome from Casa Fontana, and even shorter by car – perfect for a day or a weekend. Alternatively, fly directly to Rome, spend a couple of unforgettable days there and then head out to Casa Fontana to let it all sink in and relax in the clean air and quiet countryside of beautiful Le Marche.