The Marche region lies in the east of central Italy, bordered by Umbria and Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Abruzzo. A long deep blue coastline to the east wild and mysterious Apennine mountains to the west.

The hills of the Macerata countryside are dotted with magical hilltop villages where you can admire the medieval architecture or simply sit outside a café, sipping a chilled glass of the local Verdicchio wine and watching the world go by.

A trip to Urbino, a pinnacle of Renaissance architecture and the birthplace of Raphael, is a must. The magnificent Palazzo Ducale houses works by Raphael, Giovanni Bellini and Piero della Francesca. Other towns rich in art and culture include Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Fabriano, Macerata and Camerino.

For opera lovers, the wonderful neo-classical open-air amphitheatre in Macerata hosts an internationally renowned opera festival every July and August.

For the more energetic, the region is ideal for walking, cycling, mountain biking, watersports and horse riding. We are nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Sibillini National Park has peaks of over 2000 meters and is well worth a visit and the huge peaks visible from the balcony