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marches
When you think of the region of The Marches, your mind is taken to lands of culture, art, history, folklore, fun and international events. There are numerous cities of interest: Urbino, Ascoli, Piceno, Camerino, Macerata, San Leo, Offida, Ripatransone, Montalto Marche and San Severino Marche are just a few. In addition, we can’t forget the famous seaside resorts of San Benedetto del Tronto, Grottammare, Sirolo and Numana.
All of the places mentioned are characteristic of the The Marches landscape. We begin in the west in the stunning Sibillini mountain chain with its various national parks (Parco di Gola Rossa, Riserva dell’Abbadia di Fiastra, il Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, Il Parco Nazionale dei Monti della Laga, La Riserva della Gola di Furlo); as we head towards the east, we notice the decline of the hills and the medieval castles and villages which, even today, retain their historic charm; continuing eastwards we reach the Adriatic coastline – one long beach interrupted only by the majestic Monte Conero.
There are a number of events taking place during the year: historical commemorations, medieval jousts, and ancient rural events (La Quintana in Ascoli Piceno, Il Palio in Assunta di Fermo), in addition to several other festivities of a completely different type, like the hugely famous Festa degli Gnomi e dei Folletti (Festival of gnomes and sprites) which takes place every year in August.
localities of Montefeltro
Pesaro is the departure point of a tour that touches on both faith and art. It begins in the local sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, formerly the church of San Francesco, which was erected in 1325 at the orders of the Minorite. In 1922, the sacred image of the Crowned Virgin by Cardinal Spada in 1687, was transferred there from the Chiesetta di San Marco. This church is a gothic art gem with a wonderful doorway constructed (in the 14th century) from white stone from Istria and red stone from Verona. In the Muraglia area, the Shrine of S. Nicola (at Valmanente) deserves a visit. It is in this monastery that S. Nicola da Tolentino (1267) stayed and where Beato Pietro Giacomo (the 15th century Augustinian friar) had his famous vision of Purgatory and led his ascetical life.
Heading in a northerly direction, you arrive at Tavullia, (until 1940 called Tomba) which has two sanctuaries: S. Pio and della Madonna del Monte (in the hamlet of Montpeloso). If you go instead towards the Romagnola coast, you come to Casteldimezzo where, in the town centre, you find the sanctuary of SS. Crocifisso which has a chapel holding a wooden Christ and works of art by Antonio Bonvicino and Jacobello dal Fiore (1400AD).
We continue to Urbino where we can admire the famous and majestic Palazzo Ducale, not only a jewel of the Renaissance Italy crown, with its splendid renaissance court but also a fortified residence situated above the Mercatale (market). The court is reachable by a helix staircase created by Francesco di Giorgio Martini which allowed access between the Montefeltro residence with the stables of Data and the exterior of the walls. The palazzo was ordered by Federico di Montefeltro and is the work of the celebrated Dalmation architect Luciano Laurana who produced the designs for the spectacular courtyard of honour, the great staircase, structures connecting the building to the old Castellare (castle) and the magnificent façade of the Torricini.
When Laurana left Urbino in 1472, he was replaced by Francesco di Giorgio Martini who brought the work almost to completion, adding to the definition of the decorative parts of the façade and the wings facing the city. For the completion of the frames of the doorways and windows he benefited from the help of the Milanese stone-cutter/sculptor Ambrogio Barocci, to whom we also owe thanks for the decoration of the grand rooms and internal hall.
Urbino, which hosts the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, offers the possibility to visit a number of churches and sanctuaries or to go back up the Valle del Foglia, in the direction of Montefeltro. In Sassocorvaro there is the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie and the 1400AD fresco in the church of S. Giovanni Battista. Continuing towards Montefeltro, at Montecerignone there is the Santuario del Beato Domenico Spadafora (restrucured between the 18th and 20th centuries) where, in the left nave, are the remains of Beato domenico, born in Sicily in 1450. Carpegna, one of the most famous tourist destinations, offers the chance to visit the romantic Pieve di San Giovanni (1182) which was restructured in 1323. Passing through the many places so rich in history, art and spirituality, you cannot help having a look at San Leo. In the town there is the Pieve, the 14th-16th century basilica and the romantic Duomo (1173) which houses the tomb of S. Leone. A few steps away is one of the most ancient Franciscan convents: Sant’Igne which was founded by Saint Francis himself.
