Le Marche, Italy
- Lee John
- Mar 12, 2015
- 2 min read
Picture courtesy - http://www.miomyitaly.com
This is perhaps one of the least well-known of Italy's twenty regions, offering a peace and quiet that is harder to come by in some of the better known areas. Yet Le Marche is an overlooked gem – its perfect walking conditions, dramatic mountains and some of the best views in Europe looking out over the wine-producing region to the Adriatic Sea make it an excellent destination for anyone who is looking to have a quiet walking holiday. What is more, the old-fashioned charm of the seaside resorts of Pesaro and Fano is not too over-developed, as much of the rest of Italy's coast line can be. They have a certain old-fashioned and slightly dishevelled charm. On the coast you will also find the Conero Riviera, with its white-pebble beaches and cliffs that resemble the white cliffs of Dover. Only the area around Ancona offers a commercial and touristy mess of characterless development and soulless beaches.
Picture courtesy - http://brianjannsen.com
Perhaps the most attractive area of Le Marche though, are the mountains of Sibillini National Park that form this regions boundary with Umbria. While the coast, or at least sections of it, have suffered from thoughtless development over the years, the protected mountains are thankfully unspoiled.
Picture courtesy - http://brianjannsen.com
The Monti Sibillini are a spectacular, legend-filled, magical mountain range. There is a cave reputed to have been the lair of a sorceress, a mountain lake died red with the devil's blood, and a narrow pass known as the gorge of hell. Wolves, chamois and bears lurk in the dark woods, and rare golden eagles fly in the sky above. This area may make for some eerie experiences.
If you would like to explore the Monti Sibillini National Park then the best ways to do so are definitely on foot, on a mountain bike or on horseback. For a hiking or biking challenge, try Il Grande Anello dei Sibillini (The Great Sibilline Ring), a 120km circular walking or cycling route. Footpaths take around nine days to walk, while on a mountain bike you will probably be able to complete the route in around four or five days. There are spectacular views to be had and a number of mountain refuges to stay in on your travels.
If you wish to scale Mount Sibilla, you can stay at the base Rifugio Sibilla 1540. This is around 6km east of Montemonaco on the path that leads eventually to the cave of the sibyl. Note that it is important to have a good map of the area as the paths are not well signed and are barely visible in places. Monte Vettore, at 2476m, is the tallest of the range and should only be attempted with a good map and the right gear. Before you make any plans, remember that these high peaks will involve snow-climbing equipment until June, so best only come hiking in the summer unless you are very experienced at winter mountaineering.
So, if you are planning a hiking holiday or simply a restful, out-of-the-way break in Italy then consider Le Marche, where nature is the star act.
Content Courtesy - http://www.traveleze.co.uk
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