Agriturismo in Marche with Cooking Classes

Farm stays in Le Marche occupy a region of parallel river valleys running from the Apennines to the Adriatic, so almost any farm here is within an hour of both mountains and beach. It remains one of the least-visited parts of central Italy, and rates reflect that.

Where to base yourself

The hills behind Ancona and Jesi produce Verdicchio, Italy's most serious white wine from this coast. Further south, the Sibillini mountains rise sharply, with Sarnano and Amandola as bases for walking. Around Urbino, in the north, the landscape is Renaissance countryside almost unchanged since Piero della Francesca painted it. The Conero peninsula gives the only cliffed, cove-lined stretch of the northern Adriatic. Inland Macerata and Fermo are quiet farming country.

What to expect

• Verdicchio and Rosso Conero from estates that bottle their own
• Olive ascolane, ciauscolo salami and aged pecorino from the hills
• Truffles from Acqualagna, one of Italy's main markets, from autumn onwards
• Restored stone farmhouses, often with pools and wide valley views
• Beaches under an hour away from most inland farms

Timing

May, June and September are the strongest months. July and August fill the coast with Italian families while the hills stay quiet and noticeably cooler. Autumn brings truffles, new oil and the grape harvest. Some higher farms in the Sibillini close in winter.

Ancona has an airport and a port with ferries to Croatia and Greece; Bologna and Rome are each around three hours by car. The coastal railway is good but the valleys inland are not served, so a car is needed for almost every farm.

In Marche we have 221 farmhouses, including 145 with swimming pool, 98 with restaurant and 121 pet friendly.