An Authentic Italian Experience in Le Marche

Tucked between the hills and valleys of the Apennine Mountains and the cliff-lined coasts of the Adriatic Sea lies Le Marche, a lesser-known province of Italy. It’s easy to let travel dreams of neighboring Umbria and Tuscany overshadow this area.

But, Le Marche is a dream destination all its own.

It is home to the Frasassi Caves, Monti Sibillini National Park, and enough market towns and tiny villages to keep you occupied for weeks.

But, most importantly, it is home to Mercatello sul Metauro.

Hidden is the hills and approaching the border with Umbria, you will find Mercatello sul Metauro. It’s a place very few tourists visit, where you’re greeted with a buon giorno or even a kiss on the cheek; where the locals spend their days chatting in the plaza, and Romanesque and Gothic buildings house centuries old art.

The warm welcome I received in this quiet village paired with my stay at the medieval Palazzo Donati made my time in Le Marche an idyllic experience that I’ll…