This secret slice of eastern Italy, with hidden beaches and hill towns full of art.

Stretching for around 100 miles along the Adriatic coast, with hilltowns to rival those of Tuscany and Umbria, Le Marche is a gorgeous region.

Surprising and wonderful in its diversity, this region of Central Italy, with its winding yet symmetrical form, shows off its multi-faceted beauty through cliffs and caves that overlook unforgettable beaches, hills that are steeped in history, and rich traditions and cultures, all set against a backdrop of mountains.

From the white-pebble, cliff-backed bays along the Adriatic to sloped hill towns and the high-rise mountain ranges of Monti Sibillini, Le Marche is one of Italy’s little-known treasures.

Ancona is a bustling port on the eastern coast of Italy facing the Adriatic Sea. This city lies directly opposite Zadar and is within the Marche region of the country. It was founded by ancient Greeks as an outpost of Syracuse, in Sicily, and its harbour thrived during the Roman era.

Pesaro is a gorgeous coastal town situated on the eastern side of Italy in the Marche region. Facing the Adriatic Sea, this city is the second most populated in the Marche region after Ancona. Pesaro benefits from its fantastic stretch of golden beaches.

One of Marche’s cultural capitals, the city of Macerata spreads over a hilltop in a beautiful spot. It enjoys a near-perfect setting surrounded by rolling hills covered with olive groves and grape vines, with a plethora of pretty hill towns dotting the countryside.

A green-blue heart where you can follow cats meandering around walled villages. Where you can go caving and end your day with a sunset swim on some of Italy’s best beaches. A place where lunch turns into aperitivo and into dinner because you can’t stop enjoying that delicious food.

This “city of travertine” – most of the set-piece buildings are built from this honey-coloured limestone – is the highlight of the southern Marche. It’s a place to wander, rather than check off sights from a list. Ascoli Piceno is a hidden gem of a Le Marche city

Urbino is a walled medieval town, a steep stone hill town to rival anything in Tuscany or Umbria, and just as taxing on the calf muscles. Its grandiose architecture went up during a golden age under Federico da Montefeltro in the late 1400s, when it was the capital of a powerful dukedom..