FROM MAY TO OCTOBER
ANCONA - DAY 1
In the early afternoon guided tour of the city of Ancona, settled by the Greeks who named it “Ankon” (elbow); the ancient Ancona in fact stands on a promontory shaped like a bent elbow, offering a perfect natural protection to the port. The visit will begin from the millenary Cathedral of San Ciriaco which rises in a spectacular location at the top of the Guasco hill , then you will go down to the Lazzaretto (Lazaret hospital) of Ancona, also known as Mole Vanvitelliana from the name of its architect Luigi Vanvitelli (van Wittel) . It stands on an artificial pentagonal island located in the port. Inside the Mole we will visit the Omero Museum , one of the few tactile museums existing in the world. In the evening, arrival at our hotel in the Ancona area, dinner and overnight stay
THE RIVIERA DEL CONERO (BOAT EXCURSION), LORETO AND RECANATI - DAY 2
After breakfast we will leave for an exciting crewed boat excursion, that will reveal the Riviera del Conero in all its splendor. We will start from Numana Tourist Port and sail along the coast admiring the beautiful beaches of Numana and Sirolo until arriving to the Sassi Neri ( black stones) beach, then it will be the turn of the famous beach of the Due Sorelle (two sisters) with its two white sea stacks emerging from the sea. Ater a short stop at the Gabbiani (seagulls) beach, you will admire Portonovo with its Napoleonic Fortress, cross Mezzavalle bay and finally stop at the Trave beach , a natural underwater tongue that acts as a reef, creating an emerald green natural swimming pool where you will find it impossible not to to dive. Back on board, surrounded by that fantastic and relaxing panorama , an aperitif based on drinks and snacks awaits you , to recover lost energy. Duration of the excursion: 3 and a half hours. Free lunch.
Afternoon wholly dedicated to a guided tour of two “pearls” of region Marche : Loreto and Recanati. I n Loreto we will visit the outstanding Renaissance architectural complex of the Basilica of the Holy House, one of the main places of Marian worship and one of the most important and visited Marian shrines in the Catholic world . Afterwards we will reach Recanati, birthplace to the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi ; we will visit his noble residence , with its library, the reception rooms, the garden, the poet’s apartments and the Leopardi museum. At the end of the visit we will take a walk through a Leopardian place par excellence: the garden on the “lonely hill” of the ‘Infinity” poem . Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay .
THE CAVES OF CAMERANO, FABRIANO - DAY 3
After breakfast, we will reach the nearby Camerano for a guided tour of the caves. The caves of Camerano or rather, the underground city of Camerano is a complex excavated in the sandstone and running with a labyrinthine pattern under the old town. For a long time the many tunnels were believed to be but the remains of ancient sandstone quarries or places to store wine. The explorations and the studies carried out , however, revealed the presence in almost all areas of architectural embellishments ( carvings, vaults, decorated columns) not suitable for quarries or simple cellars . Free lunch.
In the early afternoon we will reach Fabriano, a small Marche city awarded in 2013 the title of Creative City of ‘ UNESCO in the category “Handicrafts, folk arts and popular traditions”, mainly due to its historical handmade paper production. After a short walk through the old town, we will pay a visit to the Paper and Watermark Museum , housed inside the former Convent of the Dominicans. The museum hands down the centuries-old tradition of paper production that makes Fabriano unique in Europe.
The exhibition also includes a very important collection of ancient and modern watermarks : during the tour, in addition to watching a video on the history of paper, the visitor is offered a practical demonstration of the production of paper by hand under the guide of master paper makers. At the end of the visit you will enjoy a tasty aperitif based on Fabriano salami, beer and aged honey. In the evening, arrival at the hotel in Genga, dinner and overnight stay
GENGA AND THE ADVENTURE PARK, THE CASTLE OF FRONTONE, THE MONASTERY OF FONTE AVELLANA - DAY 4
After breakfast, free morning in the recently upgraded and retooled “Frasassi Adventure” park of Genga , which develops in the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi protected green area, located along the banks of the Sentino river. It is the ideal place for those who want to spend a day outdoors immersed in nature and have fun in total safety on the 5 adventure trails for adults and children. Free lunch.
In the afternoon we will reach the small village of Frontone and visit the Castle, a border fortification guarding the territory that the Romans crossed to reach the Adriatic which was the last fortress of the Duchy of Montefeltro between the 15th and 16th centuriesFrontone is surrounded by a magnificent natural setting from the top of which your view can reach as far as Monte Nerone, San Marino and the Adriatic sea .
At the end we will visit the Monastery of Fonte Avellana , located on the wooded slopes of Mount Catria , 700 meters above sea level. Its origins go back to the end of the 10th century, around 980, when some hermits chose to build here the first cells of a hermitage which over the centuries would grow to become the current monastery. Return to the hotel in Genga, dinner and overnight stay .
THE FRASASSI CAVES, THE VALADIER TEMPLE AND THE INFRASAXA SANCTUARY, PIEROSARA, ARCEVIA - DAY 5
After breakfast, we will reach the Frasassi Caves. One of Marche jewels, the Frasassi Caves are an underground karst cave system; the complex is made up of a huge set of underground chambers the first of which, the Ancona Abyss, can be easily visited by the public. It is a huge cavity with an extension of 180 x 120 m and a height of 200 m, so large that it could easily contain the Cathedral of Milan. Our guided tour of the complex (tourist route) lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Upon request and by reservation, it is possible to carry out a speleological visit with a specialized guide.
At the end of the visit , following a path not far from the cave entrance,you will be able to reach on foot the Temple of Valadier, an octagonal sanctuary in neoclassical style built under Pope Leo XII by the famous architect Giuseppe Valadier. Nestled between the rocky walls of the mountain, its beauty is enhanced by the naturalistic context that surrounds it: the white color of the travertine marble with which it is entirely built shines even more candid in the shadow of the cave; the lead dome that covers it seems more imposing because it almost touches the rock above; the statue of the Virgin and Child in white Carrara marble by Antonio Canova , placed on the altar inside, is even more precious because it is inserted in such an impervious context.
Walking a path of about 800 meters uphill, you can also admire the small “Infrasaxa” sanctuary, a place of great spirituality leaning against a rocky wall of the cave that contains the Valadier Temple . Free lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the tiny medieval fortified village of Pierosara with its walls, its gates, and the superb tower which had the dual function of watch and defense. Here you can enjoy a charming panoramic view from the top of the hill . You cannot miss a visit to the abbey of San Vittore delle Chiuse , perfectly set in a natural setting. To close the tour with a flourish, a short walk through the old town of Arcevia, a medieval village still surrounded by its nine castles. End of services.