In Italian

My itinerary, 2 days in the Marches.

Developed over the project of territorial promotion #RipartidaiSibilliniExperience2 to give voice and visibility to a series of excellent local activities that – despite the inconveniences, the difficulties and the problems arose following the earthquakes occurred in 2016 – keep staying and working on their beautiful land with courage, love and passion.

An experience trail among history, art, nature, gastronomy and relax discovering the villages of Macerata and its neighborhoods at the gates of the Monti Sibillini National Park.

 

 

2 days in the Marches: the itinerary

 

“It isn’t enough to read the Marches near the seaside,

it is necessary to cut this coastal line with the wonderful valleys taking from the sea to the mountains.

Here, too, there’s a series of wonders leading us to correct and increase our first impressions.”

(Carlo Bo)

 

2 intense and very beautiful days – but also more days if you have time – in the heart of Macerata, discovering historic villages, churches and dwellings rich in artworks, castles, collections, natural parks and archeological sites. All this enriched by a rich and excellent local gastronomy – not to be missed!

An itinerary fit for everyone, couples, groups and families, leaving from Caldarola to reach the neighboring villages of Serrapetrona and Cessapalombo.

And then Tolentino and Urbisaglia as far as the Abbadia di Fiastra Nature Reserve.

2 days in the Marches: Caldarola

A land of castles, arts and architecture of the 16th century, with important medieval and romans testimonies.

A wonderful village (unfortunately seriously damaged by the earthquakes occurred in 2016) that tries to recover and get back to its ancient splendor step by step, starting from the very beautiful and precious Pallotta Castle – unfortunately still closed to the public due to restoration works – owned by the noble Pallotta family who contributed in full 1500 in making Caldarola a little Renaissance treasure.

Please, find further info about the history and the art production inside the castle on Racconti di Marche, the most important national website to discover and explore the region of Le Marche.

2 days in the Marches: Serrapetrona

Serrapetrona, land of Vernaccia Nera DOCG – a sparkling wine, both dessert and dry wine got after even three fermentations – of men of art, culture and explorers.

Starting from the Polyptych of the 15th century of the San Francisco Church, the reopening and the collection “Il bello della Ricostruzione” at Santa Maria di Piazza Church – known also as Santa Maria Assunta – which gather several artworks saved from the earthquake occurred in 2016 and recovered by the churches of the neighborhoods. Then the odd story (and tour) of Claudi Palace and its versatile family of patrons, artists and literates.

Today, Claudi Palace is a museum and seat of the foundation of the family dedicated to the promotion of art and culture. Recently, it has hosted the exhibition dedicated to the archeological collection – included the complete skeleton of a dinosaur of about 4 meters, a Prosaurolophus of the Late Cretaceous – of the geologist and diplomat Giorgio Recchi.

At his death in his villa in Serropetrona a real treasure of archeological finds dating back to several historic eras was found, the skeleton of the dinosaur perfectly assembled included.

For any info about guided tours, exhibitions and events, send an email to info@fondazioneclaudi.it or you can follow the Serrapetrona Municipality Facebook page.

2 days in the Marches: The Butterflies Garden, Montalto di Cessapalombo

The Butterflies Garden. A magic world – for both big and little ones.

An “oxygen ball”, the treasure of the Monti Sibillini National Park, a one-of-a-kind park where to learn taking care of nature so that butterflies can find a natural habitat where to proliferate. All this through the care of attractive, olfactory and visual plants, attracting over 250 species of butterflies and moths every year.

Furthermore, at the Butterflies Garden it is possible to have a series of experiences closely with nature, like the care and the study of the medicinal herb garden of the Benedictine Monks, the extraction of the essential oils, historic and literary walking, and tastings of particular pizzas created thanks to the spices and the aromas of Le Marche cultivated on site.

The Garden is located in Contrada Fonte Girata 3, Montalto di Cessapalombo. For any further info about the activities scheduled and bookings, please contact the following number +39 340 2522383 or look the official website up here.

2 days in the Marches: Basilica and Cloister of San Nicola da Tolentino, Tolentino

Tolentino is a small town in the neighborhoods of Macerata, since ever famous for its historic and artistic sights.

Among these it is impossible not to quote – and so heartily recommend the tour – the Basilica of San Nicola da Tolentino and the adjoining Cloister of the 14th century of the Augustinian Friars.

Despite the structure suffered some damages during the earthquakes in 2016, it is possible to visit the basilica, a part of the “Cappellone”, the reliquary where the reliquaries of the saint are preserved, the Cloister of the 14th century and the oratory of the Augustinian community, besides the chapel with the frescos of the 13th century.

For any further info, look the official website of the Basilica of San Nicola da Tolentino up.

2 days in the Marches: Urbs Salvia Archeological Park

A path fit for cycle tourism and that develops from the Archeological Museum in Urbisaglia – where you can admire the only fragment of Fasti Triumphales found outside Rome – as far as the Theater and the Roman Walls, to the water tank of the town, as far as the buildings dating back to the Republican period. It reaches the peak in the tour of the Amphitheater.

It is the widest and well preserved archeological site of the whole Le Marche.

Check the official website of the park to plan your tour at its best.

2 days in the Marches: Abbadia di Fiastra Nature Reserve

Natural park rich in cultural and landscaped attractions.

Starting from the Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra, founded in 1142 by the Cistercian monks of Milan and whose insides – among them the wonderful Refectory of Conversi, the Cloister and the Sala del Capitolo – are perfectly preserved, as far as the nature reserve founded in 1983 including almost 2000 hectares of lands, masterly worked by the monks over the centuries.

For any info about special openings and events during your visit you can check here the Abbadia di Fiastra Nature Reserve official website.

2 days in the Marches: where to sleep, the heartily welcome of Colle Casini Cortesi

Colle Casini Cortesi is without any doubt the perfect place – in terms of awesomeness of landscape, relax, welcome, care and attention of details, besides the single needs – where to stay during your 2 days’ itinerary in the Marches.

It is an ancient farm of 70 hectares – which in origin dedicated to the cultivation of pink apple, typical of the area – belonged to the noble family of Casini Cortesi and run by the latter until the Second World War. After a long period of abandonment, the entire area has been taken over and rearranged with love and passion by the Dignani family, which runs it directly today, preserving its historic and cultural memory.

In fact, it often happens that the children and sometimes also the grandchildren of the farmers grown up in the farm of Casini Cortesi come back to “relive” the places of their childhood and tell old stories and anecdotes related to the life at the farm.

The deconsecrated church of the property has been completely turned into charm accommodations, with rooms cared in every details, besides very useful and comfortable common areas, among them a relax room with living room and kitchen.

Outside – completely swallowed by the neighboring nature, the vineyards and olive groves in the property – there’s a pool with garden and a wooden style structure where breakfast is served, cared personally by the owners with local products. And where typical tastings are offered – among them the fine Oil of Coroncina.

You can choose your room and book your stay directly on the official website of Colle Casini Cortesi, write an email to info@agriturismocollecasinicortesi.it or contact the following number +39 393 9657225.

Colle Casini Cortesi is located in Contrada Collarsone, Caldarola.

2 days in the Marches: where to eat and where to taste typical products of the land

Find down here a few useful indications to have authentic gastronomic experiences – always tested personally – on the land.

2 days in the Marches, experiences: have a tasting of the authentic Vernaccia Nera di Serrapetrona at the wine cellar Podere sul Lago

Podere sul Lago is a young family-run and artisanal management wine cellar – owned by the entrepreneur Sandrino Quadraroli – in few years become a real reference point in the wine production of the land and not only. Not to be missed a Vernaccia Nera di Serropetrona tasting – a fine native DOCG wine, which have been produced since the Middle Ages – and Merlot tasting.

Podere sul Lago wine cellar is located in Loc. Borgiano – via Castello, 20 – Serrapetrona. · For further info and bookings, please write an email to info@poderesullago.it or call +39 3333017380.

2 days in the Marches, experiences: give oneself a dinner at Picciolo di Rame, to enjoy a journey back in time and rediscover the savors and the history of the dishes of the land

 

“Every typical recipe must have a logic sense and necessity”.

(Silvano Scalzini)

 

Try to imagine having dinner at an ancient oil mill dating back to 1500, rediscover not only the savors of tradition of Le Marche, but also their origins, through the words and the creativity by Silvano Scalzini accompanying personally every single dish – in a unique menu of 12 courses, selected exclusively according to the seasonality of the land products – telling its history and anecdotes.

Picciolo di Rame is located in Caldarola, inside the Vestignano Castle. It is recommendable to book well in advance calling the number +39 348 3316588.

2 days in the Marches, experiences: give oneself an unforgettable tasting of typical dishes at Yuri’s, at the Maggi and Vecchioni Farm

A biological family-run farm born in 1963, which was able to get back up with courage and determination after the earthquake swarm occurred in 2016 and that keep producing with love and passion – ask for Yuri Maggi, a wonderful guy, literary in love with his job – meats, cold cuts, flours, local oil, jams and a series of really high quality in oil products.

My tip is to stop for a tasting, maybe for lunch, besides to buy their delicacies.

Maggi and Vecchioni farm is located in Località Case Sparse Borgiano 10, in Serrapetrona, Macerata.

For info and bookings, please contact the following number +39 339 535596