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There are an abundance of ways to enjoy our hidden region – Le Marche, Italy, during the summer months.

Untouched by mass tourism, the season is relatively short – peaking late July and into August, mainly because other Italians vacation here during the August holidays. So when the weather warms up during May, we have several months to hit the beach without the crowds, queues or traffic.

Should you move to Le Marche or buy a vacation home here, you will enjoy experiencing all that our region offers during the summer and the opportunity to witness authentic Italian living that it holds.

From montagne to mare, here are six favourite highlights of how to spend summer in Le Marche.

ENJOY LE MARCHE’S FESTE & FESTIVALS

Italians certainly know how to celebrate – and there’s no better way to immerse yourself into local life than by attending your nearest summer festa (festival or party). Practically every town and village, no matter how small, will hold at least one festa during summer. Our village, Force, has held at least 10 this year!

Feste can celebrate a village’s traditional dish, a harvest, local wine, food type or anything else you can think of! A large attendance by locals and visitors is guaranteed – as are street acts and performers, food stalls, stands serving wine and beer as well as live music – perfectly combined with a lively atmosphere that lasts way into the night.

Events in larger towns and cities include Pedaso’s Jazz Festival, Castelfidardo’s Accordion Festival and Force’s three-day Antichi Sapori, while Ascoli Piceno pushes the boat out for its annual Middle-Ages themed Quintana – complete with horse jousting, costumed processions, live music and games.

Tip – Begin by checking out the dates of your town or village’s festa – a great way to mix and mingle with your community. Then head to Corriere Proposte or Marche in Festa to see others that are taking place – you won’t need to travel far to find one as there are over 150 feste during the summer!

EXPLORE LE MARCHE’S THEATRES

Le Marche boasts over 100 theatres, the most recent study in 2004 confirmed that the actual number is 101! Each teatro tells its own story, and many of these elaborately-decorated treasures are hidden behind the grand doors of innocent looking buildings, with no indication from the outside of the elegance that lay within.

Fermo’s impressive Teatro Dell’Aquila is a feast for the eyes, inaugurated in 1791 it has since hosted operas, ballets and performances from some of Italy’s most well known artists.

When you arrive in Le Marche, be it for a vacation or a permanent move, your nearest town will almost certainly house a beautiful ancient theatre, featuring a full line up of events to enjoy.

But it’s not only theatres that will give you a cultural experience – Macerata is home to the famed Sferisterio Amphitheatre which holds its opera festival each summer and features a variety of operas and ballets as well as performances from popular Italian singers.

Tip – How to tell the age of a theatre in Le Marche? Check out the colour scheme used – blue and gold were popular pre 1700’s, while red and gold came into fashion during the 18th century.

Tip – Book a tour with the theatre itself or with your local tourist information office – many towns will have one.

READ MORE: LE MARCHE – A REGION FOR ALL SEASONS

MARCHE’S MUSEUMS

As with theatres, Le Marche boasts a staggering amount of museums (I wouldn’t like to estimate but there must be hundreds), each one uniquely paying tribute to different elements of the region’s past.

Discover an abundance of art and archaeology museums, museums dedicated to Catholicism, museums that house the works of famed Italian artists such as Raffaello as well as less-obvious science, transport, al mare, copper and food museums – each stuffed with artworks, ancient artefacts, ceiling frescoes and beautiful interiors.

Discover your favourite in your nearest town and while away an afternoon getting lost in Italy’s past.

Tip – Entrance to many museums is free, while guided tours can be booked through the museum itself or with your local tourist information office. Tickets are inexpensive and generally include tours of other museums and attractions in the area.

BOAT TRIPS IN LE MARCHE

The Adriatic coastline is simply stunning, and we love nothing more than taking a boat trip to explore it from the sea. Trips can be booked from the marina at San Benedetto del Tronto, or for the more adventurous why not rent your own barka?

Further north, head to the beautiful Conero Coast in the province of Ancona – where a gorgeous coastline scattered with secluded beaches and backed by mighty white cliffs offer a multitude of sailing experiences.

Enjoy an evening meal or sunset cruise, private trips for small groups, or a slow sail whilst sipping an evening aperitivo.

A regular shuttle service from Numana to the secluded beach of Due Sorelle is the perfect way to spend a morning. Only accessible by boat, this white-pebble beach takes its name from two large rocks that rise from the sea, resembling two praying Nuns.

In addition to this, sailing experiences, windsurfing lessons, kayak and pedalo rentals can also all be enjoyed. Check out your local tourist office for a full list.

Tip – Book in advance during the summer months as boat trips and shuttle services get booked up quickly.

RELAX ON LE MARCHE’S BEACHES

With 173 kilometres of coastline, it will come as no surprise to learn that Le Marche boasts an enormous amount of beaches. Whether pebbles, shingles or long sandy beaches are your thing, our region has all options covered.

The closest beaches to our home are Grottammare and Cupra Marrittima and both offer free bathing or private sunbed and umbrella rentals from one of the many concessions and chalets that also serve coffee, pranzo and cena.

A sea barrier constructed in rocks ensures shallow waters and family-friendly bathing, where during the summer the sea is warmer than the water in the average bathtub!

Further north, a cycle path begins near the beach at Pedaso and continues all the way south to San Benedetto del Tronto, where large seafront boulevards lined with palm trees make for a great bicycle ride.

Beautiful beaches stretch all the way to the north of Le Marche, guaranteeing that wherever you live or take your vacation, you will never be too far away from a spiaggia experience.

The Conero coast in the province of Ancona is home to some of the region’s most unique beaches, some only accessible by boat. Watersports, boat trips, shuttle services and longer cruises are all available here, as well as scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and kayaking, to name but a few.

Tip – You’re guaranteed a quiet period to relax and enjoy most of the beach to yourself between the hours of 1 and 3, when Italians race to the restaurants for lunch.

READ MORE: FIVE QUIET BEACHES ON ITALY’S ADRIATIC COAST

DISCOVER LE MARCHE’S MOUNTAINS

If you move to a hilltop town or even a coastal area, chances are you’ll be able to glimpse one or more of the mountains that make up the impressive Sibillini, one of the major mountain mountain ranges in Italy.

Housed in a protected National Park, most of the peaks within the Sibillini are over 2,000 metres in altitude, guaranteeing walkers magnificent panoramic views.

Trails vary from those who enjoy a gentle hike, to the more advanced, and several animal species reside in the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini where you will discover flora and fauna unique to this region.

Tip – Visit parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini for walking trails or to hire a local guide. A great tip if you’re going it alone is to plan to reach one of the many Refugio in time for lunch – a guaranteed authentic pranzo is always on the menu.