Hill top Villages in Le Marche

1. Penna San Giovani

An ancient hill top village very near our B&B. 630m above sea level means you get some fabulous views of the mountains.  

Penna San Giovanni

@kelda

Park at the bottom of the village near the fountain and walk up the steep, cobbled street through the ancient porto, for some breathtaking views.

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TIP: Walk to the very top of the village, through the park, to the remains of an ancient fort, where you'll be welcomed with stunning views of the mountains. Check to see if the lovely little theatre is open and make sure you pop in to take a look. It's stunning.

EAT

CIBUS by Burocchi

@kelda

Fabulous little place owned by a great cheesemaker. Come for aperitivo or apericena and taste some excellent local wines.

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TIP: Go for a stroll around Penna San Giovani towards sunset, then enjoy a glass of wine and a small plate of prosciutto and cheese at this place just down the road. Booking is advisable.

2. Monte San Martino

Ending slightly nearer the Sibillini Mountains, Monte San Martino is a quiet, picturesque village. At the very top, it has a children's playground that might just have one of the best views ever. 

Monte San Martino

@kelda

Wonderful hill top village with breathtaking views of the Sibillini Mountains and the River Tenna in the valley below.

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TIP: Head to the church of San Martino Vescovo to view three incredible works by the brothers Carlo and Vittore Crivelli.

EAT

Dei Priori

@kelda

Family run, a real gem of a no-frills restaurant in the very pretty hilltop village of Monte San Martino. As there’s no outside eating space, it’s a good place for eating on a rainy day and has an especially lively buzz for Sunday lunch. Their house pasta is a tagliatelle made with nettles, which is definitely worth trying. All their meat is cooked alla brace (on the indoor wood fire) so has a wonderful flavour to it. Great homemade tiramisu for dessert.

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3. Amandola

An historically important town founded in 1248 and located within the Sibillini Mountains National Park. 

Amandola

@kelda

Located within the Sibillini National Park, Amandola is a buzzy little town, with some lovely views and perfect for sitting under the colonnades, sipping an aperitivo.

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TIP: Wind your way through the cobbled streets up to the top of the town to be greeted with a dreamy view of the mountains and national park.

DRINK

Gran Caffè Belli di Di Donato Lucia Gravucci Cinzia Ippoliti Giulia S.N.C.

@kelda

The perfect spot for an aperitivo whilst you watch the world go by. Also, excellent gelato to cool off in the heat of summer.

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TIP: The perfect spot for families to stop after a walk around the town. Time it for around 5pm and it's ideal for an aperitivo for the adults and a gelato for the kids.

4. Sarnano

This spa town's medieval historical centre is one of the best preserved in Le Marche, with beautiful winding, cobbled streets.

Sarnano

@kelda

A pretty spa town with a weekly market, nearby waterfalls which are perfect for a 2-hour walk, and a wonderfully preserved medieval centre.

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TIP: Head here on a Thursday morning to start your visit at the weekly market, selling fruit, vegetables, clothes and the obligatory porchetta van for that all important panino. 

DO

Terme di Sarnano

@kelda

Spoil yourself and splash out on a spa treatment or two in this delightful medieval spa town.

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Why not get into full holiday mode by spoiling yourself to a few hours at the local thermal spa and have a treatment or two?

5. San Ginesio

At 690m above sea level and with views all the way down to the Gran Sasso in Abruzzo, San Ginesio is also known as "the balcony of the Sibillini".

San Ginesio

@kelda

Whilst the town received some damage from the 2016 earthquakes, it is will very much worth a visit for the amazing views all the way down to Abruzzo.

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EAT

Bar Centrale Incicco Luca

@kelda

Head here for one of the best homemade gelato you can get around these parts.

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Don't walk past this unassuming local bar without grabbing yourself an unbelievably good gelato - only during the summer months.

6. Fermo

Nearer the coast is Fermo, where you get both views of the mountains, surrounding villages and the Adriatic Sea. If being underground is more your thing (especially in the height of summer), then head down for a cooling tour of the Roman  and medieval cisterns, wells and tunnels.

Fermo

@kelda

Hill top town towards the coast. A beautiful piazza, bars, restaurants and a summer market on Thursday's.

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TIP: Head here on a Thursday evening in July or August for the antiques and bric-a-brac market in the main piazza and surrounding streets.

EAT

Enoteca Bar a Vino di Rossi Giuseppe

@kelda

Go to the Thursday night market having booked a table on the terrazza under the arches, and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the square from a unique vantage point. Beppe Rossi, the chef with a mad professor look, prepares delicious classic dishes with a modern twist: try the 10-course tasting menu with wine: astonishing.

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Get yourself an outside seat here for dinner on a Thursday when the evening market is on in July and August. Great food, wine and accompanying people watching.

7. Mogliano

A bustling small town known for its wickerwork and leather goods. More wonderful views of the Sibillini Mountains it sits halfway between the mountains and the Adriatic coast.

Mogliano

@kelda

Wonderful views from this bustling little town. Lively in the summer months, with locals sitting on the benches under the avenue of lime trees.

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EAT

DA MARINA AL TEATRO

@kelda

Open for dinner only, this is a great pizzeria with a big range of delicious pizzas - although you can also get pasta (of course!). It’s extremely popular in the summer with families, especially on a Saturday night. Mogliano itself is a lovely little town with uninterrupted views of the mountains, for those of you with a good eye for a photo. Get a table outside, and marvel at the swifts darting across the square in the evening light, catching their own dinner.

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Excellent pizza (evenings only), alongside lots of typical pasta and meat dishes from the region.

8. Ripe San Gineso

A very sweet little medieval village, set above the Fiastra Valley, with narrow, spiralled streets.

Ripe San Ginesio

@kelda

A small, pretty little village that's worth a visit for a stroll around its streets and a pop into some of the small, artisan shops. Also, a great little bar, especially in the summer months.

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TIP: head here for an evening stroll, when the little strings of lights around the winding streets weave their magic.

DRINK

Bar Silio - Malaripe

@kelda

A very friendly local bar, with outside seating in a beautiful little village that has some great shops, an artisan beer maker and some of the nicest village lighting I've ever seen. Well worth a visit.

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An incredibly inviting bar in the summer months, and especially when there is a festival in the village. Good locally brewed beer as well as wine. It's set opposite the Rocca Leonina - well worth a little look inside when it's open.

9. Urbisaglia

A firm favourite of ours - especially in the summer months with it's square set under the imposing Rocca.

Urbisaglia

@kelda

Sit in the square and sip an aperitivo or eat a gelato, after having a walk up the Rocca for the arial views of the village.

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TIP: Head to The Abbadia di Fiastra, just down the road, or walk the Roman ruins on the outskirts of the village. Perfect for walking off that 3-course lunch.

DRINK

Olio Vini Merende

@kelda

A vibrant, quirky little bar - only open in the evening for aperitvo. Great for a few drinks and some light snacks, or a pre-dinner glass of bubbles.

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10. Montegiorgio

Dating back to the Middle Ages when Benedictine Monks settled there, this village has lots of significant archeological finds. See the remains of castle walls and walk along the narrow alleys to really get a feel of heading back in time. 

Montegiorgio

@kelda

Lots of great architecture and a feeling that you've headed back in time in this lovely hill top village.

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TIP: Check to see if there's an opera playing in the beautiful theatre at the top of the village and book yourself a ticket for a memorable night out.

DRINK

Corso41 bis Bar e Ristorante

@kelda

A smart little bar at the top of a beautiful village. Good local wine and beer.

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