Marche (Le Marche) is central Italy's 'one region in many' on the Adriatic coast, blending sandy beaches and the dramatic Conero Riviera with Renaissance art cities, medieval hilltop villages, and the snow-capped Sibillini Mountains. From Urbino's Ducal Palace to the underground wonder of the Frasassi Caves, it offers Italy's variety with a fraction of the crowds.
Luxury hotels
Five-star and palace properties.
SeePort Hotel Ancona
Ancona's leading contemporary design hotel on the seafront, with the panoramic Ginevra rooftop restaurant, sea-view rooms with private terraces, and uninterrupted views over the harbour and Adriatic.
Hotel Emilia Portonovo
Panoramic clifftop boutique hotel above the bay of Portonovo in the Conero Regional Park, with a renowned Adriatic-fish restaurant, outdoor pool, and a contemporary sculpture garden.
Hotel Monteconero
An 11th-century Benedictine abbey converted into a hotel atop Monte Conero, with a spa, outdoor pool, and 360-degree views over the Adriatic and the Marche hills from a unique historic setting.
Palazzo dei Mercanti - Dimora Storica & Spa
Elegant historic residence and spa in a restored palazzo steps from Ascoli Piceno's travertine Piazza del Popolo, with a wellness centre set in the building's historic vaulted spaces.
Alexander Museum Palace Hotel
Pesaro's celebrated art hotel on the Adriatic seafront, where every room is designed by a different contemporary artist, with a mosaic infinity pool and direct beach access in Rossini's home city.
Hotel Bonconte
Refined four-star hotel inside Urbino's UNESCO World Heritage walls in a 19th-century building, with period furnishings, a garden terrace, and panoramic views over the Marche countryside.
Fine dining
Michelin-starred and chef-driven restaurants.
Uliassi
Mauro Uliassi's three-Michelin-star restaurant on the Senigallia harbour, set on the beach and celebrated for its inventive Adriatic seafood and game tasting menus. Booking opens well in advance and sells out fast, so reserve as early as possible.
Madonnina del Pescatore
Moreno Cedroni's two-Michelin-star restaurant at Marzocca di Senigallia, a pioneer of modern Adriatic seafood cooking and one of Italy's most influential coastal kitchens. The tasting menus are the recommended choice.
Ristorante Andreina
Errico Recanati's Michelin-starred restaurant in Loreto, renowned for its 'neo-rural' open-fire and rotisserie cooking rooted in Marche country traditions. The signature wood-fired dishes are a highlight.
Nostrano
Stefano Ciotti's Michelin-starred restaurant on the Pesaro seafront, presenting refined, ingredient-driven Marchigiano cuisine that bridges the region's sea and hills. The seasonal tasting menu is recommended.
Exclusive experiences
Bespoke and once-in-a-lifetime activities.
Private Conero Riviera Boat & Sailing Tour (Numana)
Skippered boat or traditional sailboat tour along the dramatic Conero cliffs from Numana, taking in the Due Sorelle beach, hidden coves, and swimming stops, often with a local aperitivo of sparkling wine on board.
Verdicchio & Rosso Conero Wine Estate Tour
Private visits and tastings at the Marche's leading wine estates, exploring the crisp white Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and the structured red Rosso Conero, with cellar tours and pairings of regional produce.
White Truffle Hunting in Acqualagna
Guided truffle hunt through the woods around Acqualagna, Italy's truffle capital, accompanied by an experienced hunter and trained dogs, followed by a tasting of truffle-based local dishes.
Private Frasassi Caves Speleological Tour (Genga)
An adventurous guided route beyond the standard tourist trail into the vast Frasassi cave system near Genga, exploring underground chambers, lakes, and formations with specialist speleological guides and equipment.
Sferisterio Opera Festival Evening (Macerata)
An evening at the summer Macerata Opera Festival in the neoclassical open-air Sferisterio arena, one of Italy's most atmospheric opera venues, renowned for its acoustics and grand outdoor staging.
Urbino & Montefeltro Private Renaissance Art Tour
A private guided tour of Urbino's Ducal Palace and the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche — home to works by Piero della Francesca, Raphael, and Titian — extended into the Montefeltro hill towns and Raphael's birthplace.
Spas & wellness
World-class spa retreats and treatments.
Terme di Sarnano
Thermal spa in the Sibillini foothills using mineral-rich spring waters, offering thermal baths, mud therapies, inhalation treatments, and massages in a tranquil mountain-town setting.
Terme di San Vittore (Frasassi)
Sulphurous thermal spa set in the Frasassi gorge beside the famous caves and the Romanesque abbey of San Vittore, specialising in inhalation, balneotherapy, and mud treatments amid striking natural scenery.
Palazzo dei Mercanti Spa (Ascoli Piceno)
Intimate hotel spa within the historic vaulted spaces of a restored palazzo in the centre of Ascoli Piceno, offering treatments, sauna, and relaxation areas in the heart of the travertine old town.
Luxury transport
Travel in style.
- Car
- Private chauffeur with Mercedes E-Class or S-Class from around €75/hour (~$81); full day from around €450 (~$486) for a Conero or Urbino circuit
- Air
- Helicopter transfers from Ancona Falconara (AOI) airport to the Conero Riviera or Urbino from around €550 per flight (~$594)
- Airport
- Private meet-and-greet at Ancona Falconara (AOI) with fast-track assistance and transfer from around €120 (~$130)