Marche Region…first step
Welcome to Marche Region… …a slow journey, quiet and intimate that allows you to experience this land, get in touch again with genuine people, appreciate all the most true this Region is able to offer you…and do not forget that we try and live it first …just for you!
1st day: Welcome!
Arrival at Falconara/Ancona Airport or Ancona Railway Station, meeting with the driver and transfer to Recanati, check-in at hotel Gallery and relax. Indipendent dinner and overnight stay.
2nd day: Urbino, the ideal Renaissance court…brunch by Monia’s cave!
Breakfast at hotel, pilates session and at around 10.30, transfer to Urbino, (130 km, about 1h and a half) “Arriving at Urbino and unaware of its history and its importance lies in front of an extraordinary surprise, indeed a miracle. In the game of the hills that bear the roads of access here comes an enchanted palace that the time has not scarred or dented. It ' s a step back in time, a dip in purity and freedom of the spirit” (Carlo Bo, writer and Director of University of Urbino). Meeting with our guide/assistant and tasting-lunch by Monia, just in down town with season and local products. Really interesting food experience! Walking and guided visit of the town (2 hours max), home of one of the most complete and most sophisticated civilization of the Italian Renaissance period. Great artists such as Luciano Laurana, Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Paolo Uccello, Piero della Francesca worked here and lived in the Ducal palace of Federico, today the “Galleria Nazionale delle Marche”. Through stairways and alleys discover the “Oratororio di San Giovanni”, completely painted by the brothers Jacopo and Lorenzo Salimbeni, the Cathedral, Palazzo Ubaldini, the birthplace of Raffaello Sanzio. Free time for shopping and back to Recanati. Indipendent dinner and overnightstay.
3rd day: Ascoli Piceno, the city of travertine-stone and one of the most beautiful squares of the heart of Italy.
Marilena’s special winery and family! Breakfast at hotel and pilates session. At 10.30 Transfer to Ascoli Piceno and guided visit of the town of travertine stone (1 hour max). Ascoli Piceno with its scenic squares, Roman churches, the 100 towers carved in travertine stone, city full of art and history, between the torrent “Castellano” and the “Tronto” river, of ancient origins (Piceni civilization) conquered by the Romans in 268 BC. Visit of “Piazza del Popolo”, the church of “San Francesco” (Roman-gothic church with cloister and “Loggia dei Mercanti”of 1513). Coffee-break at the historical “Caffè Meletti”, where you can taste the “anisette” drink, anise grown in the surrounding hills, in an intimate place in “liberty-style”. We can go on and visit “Piazza Arringo” with the town hall building, where you can see an important art gallery with works by Crivelli, Tiziano, Guido Reni, Alemanno. Ascoli is also known for the production of artistic ceramics. In this part of the Piceno area, you can also visit several other villages, known for handicrafts activities such as copper processing (Force and Comunanza), objects in travertine stone and many other “gourmet” products such as the famous "olive ascolane": The Romans travelling along the ancient consular road “Salaria” to get the tender olives of Ascoli, the drupe, large olive, with tiny core and sweet taste! The “pecorino” cheese, the grilled lamb and the D.O.C. wines: “Rosso Piceno”, white “Falerio dei colli ascolani” and much more. Free time for independent lunch (we will suggest you an interesting place just to taste “olive ascolane”). Transfer to wine producer in the surrounding of Ripatransone (30 km from Ascoli Piceno), TENUTA COCCI GRIFONI walking among wineries with the owner, Mrs. Marilena, and you will know and taste her wine and listen to family story surrounded by sweet and rolling hills (INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE PRICE). Back to Recanati, independent dinner and overnight stay.
4th day: “Brodetto experience”…Fano, Roman Town with Renaissance Soul!
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Fano (at 09.00 this morning), meeting with our English Speaking Assistant and Guide and the our chefforpassion Ivana of the “brodetto” (local fish soup) in Fano at the fish market. We choose together, guided by the fisherman, the fish for the brodetto soup. The chef will show us kind of fish we have to involve and he goes to the typical “marchigian-style” countryhouse, up on a hill just a few kms. from Fano (10/12), with a wonderful panorama on the hills…waiting for our cooking lesson! Meanwhile you take a coffee break at an historical pastry in down town and slow guided walking of Fano, Roman town with Renaissance heart. Short transfer to the country house: typical “marchigian-style” house of the beginning of 1900, in the countryside, for the cooking class with focus on the “brodetto fanese”: guests will go in the kitchen to prepare the “brodetto soup” with the chef. You will enjoy a great lunch with the “brodetto” just cooked! Transfer to Fratte Rosa by Terracruda wine producer. Visit of the winery and tasting. Back to Recanati, dinner at hotel and overnight stay.
5th day : Discovery of Conero Riviera…nature and flavor….Sirolo …the “windy Medieval terrace” on the Adriatic Sea…The Holy Village of Loreto…”Aperitivo” at Fortino Napoleonico…
Breakfast at hotel and today you will visit the heart of the Region. Arrival at Sirolo at around 10.00/10.30: You will admire significant centers for the richness of products of the earth, landscapes and history, enclosed in the Natural Park of “Monte Conero” and the “Vallesina”: walking (1 h max) (if the weather is nice…it will be a very fascinating experience). Then Sirolo, inhabited since prehistoric times by the Piceni, is a windy village, with a panoramic terrace on the Adriatic sea, called "La Perla Dell'Adriatico" (the pearl of Adriatic sea). Enjoy a coffee break just in its “Piazzetta” and walk down to 500 meters, till the sea…really amazing (if the weather is good!). Lunch at Sirolo (not included in the package price) and transfer to the winery Piantate Lunghe/Candia (not included in package price). On the way back, stop at Portonovo in Fortino Napoleonico to taste an “aperitivo” at around 18.00. …Back to Recanati, independent dinner and overnightstay.
6th day: Pasta excellence of Campofilone! Shopping and luxury fragrances!
Breakfast at hotel and today your will discover another excellence of Marche Region: the traditional Italian egg past producer….since 1912… The owner Mr. Enzo Rossi is reproducing the same traditional process to make egg pasta as it was made in the past by the old ladies of the Campofilone medieval village. Program: 11.00 – 12.00 visit of the pastra producing area and selling point of the factory in Campofilone. Then, visit of the fields where the grain comes from. Then to Monsapietro Morico, near Fermo to taste a light lunch with egg pasta “La Campofilone”. On the way to go back to Recanati, stop at Casette d’Ete to visit the outlets of this area, shoes and clothes (Il Castagno Brand Village and Prada Outlet, Hogan Store) and home fragrance producer Danhera of Porto Sant’Elpidio. (I am waiting for the confirmation of availability from the owner). Back to Recanati, independent dinner and overnightstay.
7th day: Cheese&Wine….whatelse?
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Cartoceto, the olive-trees town, to know an extra-virgin olive oil and goatcheese producer, a special family who loves the land and try to evaluate ita t best. Guided visit of the olive-oil historical mill with the discovery of “Fossa” caves from where the famous and local “Fossa” cheese is produced. Slow walking in down town through paths and stepladders till the main square and ahead till the “bottega” to taste family’s products and a glass of local wine. Back to Recanati and stop at Morro d’Alba by Vicari, visit of the winery and tasting (not included in the package price). Back to Recanati, dinner and overnight.
8TH DAY: Arrivederci.
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Falconara/Ancona apt or Ancona Railway Station. End of services.
Inclusions:
1st day: private transfer from apt/railway station Ancona to Gallery hotel Recanati
Assistant service at airport, transfer to the hotel and briefing at hotel about Marche and the program.
2nd day: HD guided visit of Urbino, English Speaking Professional guide
3rd day: FD guided visit of Ascoli Piceno + winery Tenuta Cocci Grifoni at Ripatransone (booked and paid by TuquiTour), English Speaking Professional guide/interpreter/tourleader Coffee break at historical Caffè Meletti
4th day: FD guide/interpreter/tourleader English Speaking Professional guide/interpreter/tourleader for Brodetto experience + brodetto lunch (drinks included) + 1h walking guided tour of Fano + visit at winery in FratteRosa (Terracruda to be booked and paid directly on spot by Wendy).
5th day: FD guide English Speaking professional guide walking at Parco del Conero, visit of Sirolo, visit at Piantate Lunghe (to be booked and paid directly on spot by Wendy) + Aperitivo at Fortino. Earphones for the Basilica of Loreto included.
6th day: FD guided Visit “La Campofilone” egg pasta producer and light lunch (drinks included), and shopping tour as in the program, in the afternoon with our professional English Speaking tourleader.
7th day: FD guided visit at the historical olive-oil mill of Cartoceto, cheese tasting, bread with extra virgin olive oil DOP and a glass of wine. Guided visit at winery in Morro d’Alba.
8th day: private transfer from Gallery hotel Recanati to apt/railwaystation Ancona. 24/7 assistance
8 seats bus GT with driver at disposal from arrival at apt/railway station till departure from apt/railway station Ancona as from the program;