Administratively, Marche is divided into the provinces of Ancona, the regional capital, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata, Pesaro Urbino and Fermo. These are cities of notable historical and artistic value starting, for example, from Urbino, a flourishing center that experienced a boom during the Renaissance; memories that can still be recalled today thanks to historical costume events.
Traditional peasant festivals and fairs are not missing, as well as a strong connection to the sea historically linked to the fact that the city of Ancona once rivaled Venice in controlling maritime trade in the Adriatic. The Marche are a destination for cultural tourism – consider that Giacomo Leopardi, Gioacchino Rossini, and the painter Raphael Sanzio were born here – but religious tourism also holds great importance: here stands the Shrine of the Holy House, in Loreto.
For the most fashionable, this region offers a great district ideal for a weekend based on shopping: various footwear and textile industries have their premises here and open the doors of their stores and outlets in the Marche. From Bikkembergs to Paciotti, passing through Prada, Byblos, Brummel up to the Harley Davidson Motor Cycles Outlet, the Marche are an excellent destination to discover high-quality Made in Italy.
