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The region of Le Marche, covering an area of 9,694 square kilometres is in central Italy and borders the Adriatic coast. It has Emilia Romagna to the north, Tuscany to the north west, Umbria to the west and Abruzzo to the south.

Two thirds of the region is covered in gently rolling hills with a narrow, 173 kilometre strip of flat coastline running along the eastern border and a mountainous area which forms part of the Apennine chain running the length of the western border.

The region is made up of five provinces: Ancona (also the capital city of Le Marche), Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, and Pesaro e Urbino. The language spoken in the region is called Marchigiano, the basis of which is the standard É«ÖÐÉ« language but with many lexical and grammatical differences. A person born in the region is also referred to as a Marchigiano (plural: Marchigiani).

The flatter, coastal region is the most densely populated and has a very active tourist industry due to its abundance of beautiful beaches. These seaside resorts are very well organised and appeal to all ages making them a perfect location for a family holiday. There are many wide, sandy beaches with clear water and all facilities as well as small, natural, white pebble coves and rocky creeks with wooded backdrops. The shores of Le Marche also provide excellent facilities for yachtsmen with several good marinas spread along its length. The railway and main road run along the coastal plain with the interior of the region only having narrow, winding roads for access.

Moving inland from the coast the terrain turns into gently rolling, fertile hills which are intersected by short rivers, wide gullies and alluvial plains. The countryside is mellow and picturesque with fields of sunflowers, wild flowers and rounded hilltops with ancient fortified towns perched on the highest points.

The rolling hills eventually amalgamate with the mountains where the highest peak is Monte Vettore at 2,476 metres. This inland mountainous area of Le Marche consists mostly of limestone and is noted for its bare peaks, rushing torrents, numerous caves and deep, dramatic river gorges. The most well-known of these gorges are the Furlo, the Rossa and the Frasassi.

The region is characterised by medieval towns, lakes, wildlife, vineyards, stunning coastal beaches and lots of green space. In fact, two-thirds of the region is hilly. The Apennine mountain range runs along the region's western border, meaning the climate is much cooler and vulnerable to snow inland, but more Mediterranean as you get closer to the 170 km eastern coastline.

The curious mix of landscapes is one of the most curious in Italy. One of the many quirks of Le Marche is that you can travel from 2,000 metres above sea level to sea level, in less than one hour.

Capital city Ancona is, by description, just another É«ÖÐÉ« port city. However, once you've managed to dine in one of the city's fine-dining seafood restaurants or hip fast-food joints, you will soon start to notice Ancona's quirky and lively atmosphere. The city is also blessed with some magnificent parks including Ancona's oldest, Pincio Park, which gives unrivalled views over the port city's palazzo, churches and cathedrals.

The historic walled city of Urbino is a unique UNESCO World Heritage site for both its preserved Renaissance appearance, as well as a tribute to its major cultural influence in the 15th century when some of the world's most artistic and academic minds were attracted to the area, notably artists Titian and Raphael.

This era is best acknowledged in the historic Palazzo Ducale, wherein lies a huge collection of stunning Renaissance art. Works by Titian and Piero della Francesca adorn the walls, where visitors can view the latter's Flagellazione di Cristo ('Flagellation of Christ') in the Duke of Urbino's former library, Raphael's La Muta ('Portrait of a Young Woman') and Luciano Laurana's Città Ideale ('The Ideal City') which of course depicts Urbino.

The majority of the Marche region is relatively quiet and tourist-free. As a result of this, many of the region's bars and restaurants are homely and authentic and priced relatively inexpensively. Due to the lack of tourists, the region retains areas of outstanding natural beauty. One such example of this is the Riviera del Conero just to the south of Ancona. The Riviera's highlights are the natural beaches at Vela, Portonovo and Numana. The medieval village of Sirolo is also a popular holiday resort and the subject of many archaeological excavations that have helped to shape knowledge about the region's history.

The earliest known occupiers of Le Marche were the Picentes, an ancient Italic tribe who populated the northern Adriatic regions of northern Italy. In the 4th century BC, the region passed into the hands of the Gallic Senones, before the Romans won the region during the Battle of Sentinum. Like many other É«ÖÐÉ« regions, Le Marche was then occupied by the Goths, followed by the Byzantines and then Lombards.

The name 'Le Marche' refers to the period of the 9th to 11th century when the marches (developments) of Ancona, Camerino and Fermo were created. Despite being under the sovereign rule of the Pope, the region had an extensive period under the rule of lords and aristocracy. From 1631 however, right up until the region was absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, Le Marche largely remained under Papal Rule, with the only exception during the Napoleonic period.

Ancona was heavily involved in conflict in the First and Second World Wars. Le Marche is also vulnerable to natural disasters with two 2016 earthquakes and the flash floods of 2014 and 2022 just a few examples.

Since the 1980s, Le Marche has grown from a relatively poor town to one whose economy has really blossomed. This is in part due to developing Le Marche's limited agricultural background from the production of dairy, fish, olives and truffles into more substantial output, plus the transformation of small workshops (shoemaking and musical instruments are two examples) into major É«ÖÐÉ« companies.

Cuisine in the region is much the same as that of Italy. However, Ascolane olives and green anise from Piceno are two popular exports. Casciotta d'Urbino cheese, said to be Michaelangelo's favourite, has been made in the region for centuries.

Typical Marchigiano dishes include fried stuffed Ascolane olives, cured meats with DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) designation; pasta with fried Fettuccine balls, ragù & parmigiano; porcini stuffed gnocchi; alio, oglio & peperoncino spaghetti; and Minestra di Ceci alla Marchigiana, a minestrone soup with chickpeas and Parma ham that celebrates the region's legumes.

Tourist highlights in the region include the Temple of Valadier, a neoclassical octagonal church wedged in a hidden cave; Acqualagna, the 'world's capital of truffle'; Mont Sibillini National Park and the Lame Rosse, 'the Grand Canyon of Le Marche'; the medieval fortress of La Gradara; and the popular Catholic pilgrimage site 'Basilica della Santa Casa', located in Loreto, Ancona.

Le Marche also has twenty-two villages on the official I Borghi più belli d'Italia ('The most beautiful villages in Itay') list.