Locality

Le Marche and Abruzzo is similar in geography to Tuscany but property prices are generally cheaper. There are many undiscovered villages offering excellent restoration projects.

The Abruzzo area is located on the eastern side of Italy, enjoying over 300 kilometres of cliffs and stunning beaches. The inland region offers cooling beech and maple forests with a backdrop of the Apennines mountain range.

Le Marche is mainly lush countryside, located away from the coast, offering similar scenery to Tuscany.

History

The region was first colonised by the Apennine tribe (after whom the mountain range is named). After this followed the Greeks and the Romans. The region was very prominent during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The economy is based mainly on agriculture. The most important sectors being grape and olive production, wheat, potato plus sheep farming. Le Marche also has a strong industrial economy, including shipbuilding.

Attractions

The whole region is dotted with charming medieval hilltop towns, offering fine churches, monasteries and palace.

Le Marche's Frasassi caves are some of Europe's most spectacular with stunning stalagmites and lakes.

The Abruzzo national park is home to the golden eagle, a colony of wolves, the Italian brown bear and chamois deer.

Food and Drink

Cheese, olives and salami are very prominent, especially olives stuffed with meat and herbs. Brodetto (fish stew), dried cod from Ancona and vincisgrassi (lasagne with chicken livers and truffles) are regional favourites.

The region produces an excellent white wine. The rest of the wine production is not so well known.

Major airports in the Le Marche and Abruzzo region

Pescara has its own aiport.

Anacona airport is called Anacona Falconara.

It is also feasible to reach the region via Rome or Rimini airports.