There is a different Infinity today in the Marche. Another vision. 1 2 An Infinity that has reversed the horizon. Because from that ancient obstacle, the border, the desire of those seeking infinite worlds approaches and finds the Infinite Marche. 3 Marche, a peninsula in the peninsula, An Adriatic region in the Mediterranean. A safe landfall for those who seek the dimensions of other times, but in our time. A modern bridge for creativity and business. A rapid destination and ideal platform for future goals. 4 5 Five provinces, unique and singular, differentiate a territory, marking their identities. Five geographical expressions, to each its elements. 6 Sea and mountains, rivers and valleys that multiply from north to south in balance, enclosing the sense of a journey in every boundary. Five journeys, authentic and parallel. 7 8 180 kilometres of beaches form the coast: from velvet sand to rocks plunging to the sea. Climbing, never tired hills that insist on a glance: waves of land and patterns that become memory. 9 From north to south, regular rivers meet valleys and hug the provinces. Every river an ancient path, every province its river. Then, suddenly, the mountains. Airy and light, telling stories and legends. Narrow and secret, custodian of grottoes and marvels. 10 11 12 Marche, unconscious DNA of every journey. Interpretation of a fascinating and generous tourism. Delayed goal that can no longer wait. Infinite people, infinite culture, infinite appeal. Infinite Marche. 13 And provinces infinitely matched. 14 15 Ancona, history and nature set square to the sea. Capital of the region and institutional centre. Multiple and unexpected land. 16 The spirituality of Loreto, the roads and palaces in the Jesi of Frederick II and Giovan Battista Pergolesi, the rhythm and elegance of Senigallia and the beach, the depth of the land in the Frasassi Caves, the fascination of the paper of Fabriano of Gentile. 17 Ascoli Piceno, province of travertine and border land, reflection of its history. 18 San Benedetto del Tronto and Grottammare, exotic and intense, the sea among the people; Offida and Ripatransone, strong and alluring villages. 19 Pesaro, Gioachino Rossini’s music in the soul and in the world, and Urbino, the ducal profile of a perfect time. Double province that embraces a border of heights and horizons with art. 20 Fano, Roman and modern, seafaring and elegant. Gabicce Mare, the pearl, Gradara, Mondavio, journeys beyond time, silent fortresses that mark literature. 21 22 Fermo, a young but adult province. Steep city on its ancient art and root of large and small townships, from mountains to sea. Amandola, Sant’Elpidio a Mare, Porto San Giorgio. 23 Macerata, history of churches and ancient walls. Genius and authenticity of a province that creates. Civitanova Marche, with its lively port, Camerino and its University, San Severino Marche, Tolentino and Recanati, inspiration of Infinity. 24 25 Marche, infinite numbers. 26 27 More than 70 historical theatres embellish the territory. 500 squares, well-preserved or carefully restored, participate in historical re-enactments. 28 200 Romanesque churches, 90 abbeys and important sanctuaries trace the paths of faith. 29 400 museums and art galleries in 239 towns, the greatest density in Italy. 30 106 castles recall ancient ways, 48 fortifications, 170 towers, 7 archaeological parks, 315 libraries with 4 million books. 31 26 towns that face the sea, many Blue and Orange Flags, Ancona, seafaring port looking to the East and 9 marinas. 32 A green territory with a green vocation: 2 national and 4 regional parks, 6 nature reserves, more that 100 protected floral areas, 15 State forests, tens of environmental-educational centres, more than 1000 outstanding monuments. 33 Marche, infinite genius. 34 35 Land of ingenuity and culture par excellence. Land of artists and writers: Leopardi, Bramante, Raphael, Gentile da Fabriano. A land that has welcomed the genius of: Piero della Francesca, Lorenzo Lotto, 36 Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Carlo Crivelli, Titian, Rubens. Land of Frederick II, Matteo Ricci and Maria Montessori. Land of musicians and singers: Rossini, Pergolesi, Spontini, Beniamino Gigli. 37 A land touched with respect by its 27 industrial districts. 38 The same genius handed down to the men of today. 39 40 Marche, infinite welcome. Hundreds of accommodation facilities now facing the sea, now the caressing hills. Every village can host visitors. 41 Paradise of taste where the infinite art of cooking is exalted by leading chefs and the finest products of this blessed land. Marche and the Marchigiani who offer an infinite welcome with infinite reserve, “ from the first moment”, that always turns into infinite profusion. 42 43 “ In such immensity my thought is drowned, and it’s pleasant to be shipwrecked in this sea.” 44 45 Illustrations Jesi, Civic Art Gallery, Monte San Bartolo Fermo, Cathedral San Benedetto del Tronto, Monti Sibillini National Lorenzo Lotto, Regional Park Riviera delle Palme Park Announcing Angel 2 5 6 8 Monti Sibillini, Monti Sirolo, Due Sorelle Monti Sibillini National Pesaro Marche countryside Numana Monti Sibillini National Riviera del Conero Azzurri Park Park 9 11 12 13 14 16 Marche countryside Monti Sibillini National Ascoli Piceno, the Historical re-enactment Marche countryside Genga, Frasassi Caves Fabriano, Piazza del Ancona, San Ciriaco Park Quintana Comune Cathedral 18 Loreto, Basilica of the Senigallia, the Rotonda Jesi, G.B. Pergolesi Ripatransone Offida, Santa Maria della Grottammare Ascoli Piceno, Piazza del San Benedetto del Tronto, Holy House Theatre Rocca Popolo Riviera delle Palme 20 22 Mondavio, the Rocca Gabicce Mare Urbino, Ducal Palace Pesaro, Rossini Opera Fano, Teatro della Gradara, the Castle Porto San Giorgio Amandola Festival Fortuna 24 Fermo, Piazza del Popolo Sant’Elpidio a Mare, Civitanova Marche Macerata, Sferisterio Camerino, G. A. d'Antonio, Tolentino, Castello della San Severino Marche, Recanati, Piazza Giacomo L. Cicconi Theatre Annunciation and Pietà Rancia Feronia Theatre Leopardi 46 26 28 29 Urbino, Oratory of San Recanati Porto San Giorgio, Ascoli Piceno, Ventidio Fabriano, Gentile da Loreto, Basilica of the Genga, San Vittore alle Corridonia, San Claudio al Giovanni, Lorenzo and Vittorio Emanuele Basso Theatre Fabriano Theatre Holy House Chiuse Abbey Chienti Abbey Jacopo Salimbeni Theatre 30 31 Serra Sant’Abbondio, Pergola, Museum of the Ascoli Piceno, Cathedral, Recanati, Civic Museums, Jesi, Civic Art Gallery Montefalcone Appennino Caldarola Ascoli Piceno Fonte Avellana Gilded Bronzes Carlo Crivelli, polyptic of Lorenzo Lotto, Monastery Sant’Emidio Annunciation 32 33 Falerone, Roman San Benedetto del Tronto Civitanova Marche Ancona, Civic Art Gallery, Riviera del Conero Marche countryside Sirolo, Monte Conero Mountain bike trail amphitheatre Filippo Boni, View of Regional Park Ancona 34 36 38 39 Monti Sibillini National Urbino Urbino, National Gallery Footwear of excellence Precision mechanics Boat-building industry Wood carving Fabriano, artistic Park of the Marche, Ideal City watermark work for fine paper 40 42 45 Archaeological find from Offida, lace making Urbania, Casteldurante Ancona, Portonovo Marche countryside Fabriano, Precicchie Giovanna Garzoni, The Monte San Bartolo the Piceni civilization ceramics Old Man of Artimino Regional Park 47 TOURISM DEPARTMENT Via Gentile da Fabriano, 9 - 60125 ANCONA phone +39 071 8062431/30 - fax +39 071 8062154 [email protected] toll-free number (Italy only) 800 222111 www.turismo.marche.it www.le-marche.com www.die-marche.com www.italy-marche.info How to reach the Marche By car: the A14 motorway runs parallel to the coast, while other fast roads and national roads lead you easily to the inland towns and villages. The exits off the A14 are: Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce Mare, Pesaro-Urbino, Fano, Mondolfo-Marotta, Senigallia, Ancona Nord, Ancona Sud, Loreto-Porto Recanati, Department of Internationalization, Culture, Tourism and Trade Civitanova Marche-Macerata, Fermo-Porto San Giorgio, Pedaso, Grottammare, San Benedetto del Tronto-Ascoli Piceno. Project coordinator Sandro Abelardi Other fast roads: Fano-Urbino-Acqualagna, Falconara Marittima-Fabriano, Civitanova Director of Tourism and Promotional Activities Marche-Muccia, Porto San Giorgio-Fermo, San Benedetto del Tronto-Ascoli Piceno. Assistant to the coordinator Laura Capozucca By bus: connections are available with many European countries and Italian cities. Buses In collaboration with to the Marche’s inland towns and villages leave from the main centres of the region. Silvia Discepoli Stefano Gregori Marta Paraventi By train: the main railway lines going across the Marche are Milan-Bologna-Ancona- Sergio Taccheri Lecce and Rome-Falconara Marittima-Ancona. Regional trains lead you easily to the The text Infinito Marche is taken from the DVD of the same title produced by Gabrio Marinelli for Regione Marche – Tourism Department. inland centres. The translation of the verses taken from L’Infinito by G. Leopardi (page 44) is courtesy of Centro Nazionale di Studi Leopardiani, Recanati. By air: Ancona Airport connects the region with major Italian cities, such as Rome and Milan. Direct international flights to Ancona depart from Brussels, Bucharest, Düsseldorf, Photos Regione Marche Archives London, Munich, Moscow, Sharm-el-Sheik, Timisoara and Tirana. Other seasonal flights are also available. Design capolinea.it By sea: ferries and catamarans connect Ancona with many ports in Greece, Croatia, Printing D'Auria Industrie Grafiche Albania, Montenegro, Turkey. Yachts and boats can dock at the region's 9 fully equipped © 2010 Regione Marche marinas: Gabicce Mare, Pesaro, Fano, Senigallia, Ancona, Numana, Civitanova Marche, Free copy Porto San Giorgio and San Benedetto del Tronto..