Pauline
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We leave in 2 1/2 weeks and I am working on my list of things to do and see in Northern Le Marche.
I am getting my information from the Locanda della Valle Nuova site (where we are staying), the Cadogan Guide for Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches (Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls), the Sunflower Guide for Umbria and the Marche, and Marche Voyager. There are also some good suggestions in my earlier thread Planning a Trip to Le Marche and Umbria.
This is what I have so far.
Pesaro, seaside town on the Adriatic. We are traveling with our friend Joan and will be picking her up at the Pesaro train station, so we can combine that with a visit to the town. The Cadogan guide says it has a good medieval center and interesting 19th century villas (many in Liberty style) near the seaside. It was the home of Rossini. We might visit the nearby Villa Caprile, an 18th century villa with Italian gardens and fountains. In 1817 – 19 it was the home of Princess of Wales, mother of Queen Victoria. Has anyone been to this? << edited to add that this is a school and usually only open to tourists in the summer. The Cadogan guides says it is open 3 - 7pm, mid June to mid September, but I am not sure this is correct.
Urbino. A day in Urbino.
Hill Towns. From @Valerie - Urbania, San Marino and San Leo.
Sant’Angelo in Vado - Domus del Mito (House of the Myth), remains of a 1st century BC Roman villa with polychrome mosaics (recently discovered). More about the town on Marche Voyager.
Pergola, Bronzi Dorati museum, with ancient roman bronzes.
Fortresses of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. The Valle Nuova site recommends San Leo, Mondavio, Sassocorvaro (its plan resembles a tortoise), Cagli, Sant’Agata Feltria and Frontone. We won't make it to all of these. More info on Marche Voyager.
Via Flaminia. This ancient Roman road ran from Rome north to the Adriatic coast at Fano and then to Rimini. In Le Marche the main site is in the Furlo Gorge, with parts of the road and an original Roman tunnel, but Marche Voyager says there was a rock slide in May and the gorge is closed to cars and pedestrians. It looks like we can find other traces of Via Flaminia in the area - Roman arch in Fano (Google Map Street view of Roman arch in Fano), remains of forum and street in Fossombrone, Roman bridge in Cagli, Roman ruins in Pontericcioli. We will spend a day hunting out as much as we can. We will see more of Via Flaminia when we are in Umbria.
More information on Via Flaminia: Marche Voyager / Wikipedia / Bill Thayer's Gazeteer / Valle Nuova
Monastery of Fonte Avellana. Founded in 979, important center of learning in Middle Ages. Dante visited. Nothing changed since 12th century. Scriptorium where they produced illuminated medieval manuscripts.
Cooking Class. We are taking a cooking class at Valle Nuova! Learning how to make two types of pasta and some vegetarian sauces.
Walking/Hiking. The Sunflower guide lists hikes in the area and there are maps and hiking information at Valle Nuova, so we should be able to do a few longer hikes. We can also walk from the farm on white roads.
I think we will skip the Caverns of Frasassi (recommended on the Valle Nuova website and by @Valerie ) because I can no longer get interested in caves unless they contain 20,000 year old cave art.
The Umbrian town of Gubbio is only 45 minutes away by car but since we have to pass by it when we drive to Spoleto for our second week, we will visit Gubbio on our travel day.
Other suggestions? Comments?
I am getting my information from the Locanda della Valle Nuova site (where we are staying), the Cadogan Guide for Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches (Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls), the Sunflower Guide for Umbria and the Marche, and Marche Voyager. There are also some good suggestions in my earlier thread Planning a Trip to Le Marche and Umbria.
This is what I have so far.
Pesaro, seaside town on the Adriatic. We are traveling with our friend Joan and will be picking her up at the Pesaro train station, so we can combine that with a visit to the town. The Cadogan guide says it has a good medieval center and interesting 19th century villas (many in Liberty style) near the seaside. It was the home of Rossini. We might visit the nearby Villa Caprile, an 18th century villa with Italian gardens and fountains. In 1817 – 19 it was the home of Princess of Wales, mother of Queen Victoria. Has anyone been to this? << edited to add that this is a school and usually only open to tourists in the summer. The Cadogan guides says it is open 3 - 7pm, mid June to mid September, but I am not sure this is correct.
Urbino. A day in Urbino.
Hill Towns. From @Valerie - Urbania, San Marino and San Leo.
Sant’Angelo in Vado - Domus del Mito (House of the Myth), remains of a 1st century BC Roman villa with polychrome mosaics (recently discovered). More about the town on Marche Voyager.
Pergola, Bronzi Dorati museum, with ancient roman bronzes.
Fortresses of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. The Valle Nuova site recommends San Leo, Mondavio, Sassocorvaro (its plan resembles a tortoise), Cagli, Sant’Agata Feltria and Frontone. We won't make it to all of these. More info on Marche Voyager.
Via Flaminia. This ancient Roman road ran from Rome north to the Adriatic coast at Fano and then to Rimini. In Le Marche the main site is in the Furlo Gorge, with parts of the road and an original Roman tunnel, but Marche Voyager says there was a rock slide in May and the gorge is closed to cars and pedestrians. It looks like we can find other traces of Via Flaminia in the area - Roman arch in Fano (Google Map Street view of Roman arch in Fano), remains of forum and street in Fossombrone, Roman bridge in Cagli, Roman ruins in Pontericcioli. We will spend a day hunting out as much as we can. We will see more of Via Flaminia when we are in Umbria.
More information on Via Flaminia: Marche Voyager / Wikipedia / Bill Thayer's Gazeteer / Valle Nuova
Monastery of Fonte Avellana. Founded in 979, important center of learning in Middle Ages. Dante visited. Nothing changed since 12th century. Scriptorium where they produced illuminated medieval manuscripts.
Cooking Class. We are taking a cooking class at Valle Nuova! Learning how to make two types of pasta and some vegetarian sauces.
Walking/Hiking. The Sunflower guide lists hikes in the area and there are maps and hiking information at Valle Nuova, so we should be able to do a few longer hikes. We can also walk from the farm on white roads.
I think we will skip the Caverns of Frasassi (recommended on the Valle Nuova website and by @Valerie ) because I can no longer get interested in caves unless they contain 20,000 year old cave art.
The Umbrian town of Gubbio is only 45 minutes away by car but since we have to pass by it when we drive to Spoleto for our second week, we will visit Gubbio on our travel day.
Other suggestions? Comments?
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