Tolentino is a large medieval town 10 minutes drive away. It is a mecca for pilgrims visiting the shrine of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino pictured above left and on the right is an entrance to the old town.

Urbisaglia with it's castle (pictured above) in the centre of the town. Below the town it is possible to visit the excavations of the old Roman town of Urbs Salvia with ampitheatre. When you are hungary make sure you find Locanda Le Logge, wonderful local food and wines, or you may just enjoy a coffee sitting outside under the collonades whilst surfing on your laptop. i

Also Worth Visiting:

• Macerata - World famous for its annual open air opera festival in July and August, and is only 18 minutes to the south of La Serenissima.

• Frasassi Caves - This 35 kilometre long wonderland of limestone caverns and caves is only 55 minutes North in the Frassi Gorge.

• Monte Conero and Beaches - Just south of Ancona the white cliffs of Monte Conero plunge straight into the sea, forming the northern Adriatic's most spectacular and enjoyable stretch of coastline. It is easily accessible, there are noless than 21 blue flag beaches with the major resorts of Portonovo, Sirolo and Numana all within easy reach of La Serenissima.

• Civitanova Marche - Attractive seaside resort and colourful fishing port with a long gravel beach and promenade. An open air market is held in the centre of the town on Saturday mornings selling everything but particularly good for leather shoes.

• San Severino Marche - 12 kilometres north of Tolentino this pretty 6th century town features a blend of Renaissance and Medieval buildings and an elliptical town square, Piazza del Popolo, surrounded by porticoes.

• Sibillini Mountains - Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Sibillini mountains by hill walking in the summer or skiing during the winter.

• Jesi - To the North this town has an attractive blend of old and modern, with it's 14th century walls and lively cultural attractions. It is also the centre of the world renowned "Verdicchio" wine producing region.

• Porto St Elpido - A long stretch of beach with bars and restaurants and unspoilt bits in between is the nearest beach with very easy parking.

• Fermo - It's web of streets is lined with medieval and Renaissance buildings, erupting out of which is a wooded peak crowned with a Romanesque-Gothic dumo. The town's most spectacular monument is hidden from view - a first-century underground complex of thirty filter beds known as the Piscina Epuratoria Romana, originally designed to supply the Roman Imperial fleet with fresh water when it docked at the nearby port. Entered from Via Aceti, off the main Piazza del Popolo, it's something akin to a flooded cathedral, with it's well preserved vault and arches subtly lit and reflected in the dark, still water. From Fermo a road descends to the resort of...

• Porto San Giorgio - This is a small fishing and sailing port with a long sandy beach, palms, pines, oleanders and a sprinkling of Art Deco villas.

• Loreto - The most important religious centre of the Le Marche region, with the sanctuary of the Santa Casa, (holy home) which is visited by numerous pilgrims. According to legend this was brought here by the angels in 1294 and is covered by a dome and protected by marble of great artistic value carried out by the best 16th century artists, according to a design of Bramante.

 ·  Urbino - the town is situated on the ridge of a hill (485m) separating the Metauro Valley from the Foglia. It was founded by the Romans (Urbinum Metaurense) and later dominated by the Byzantines and Lombards until the Franks gave it to the Papal States; together with the other Penthapolis towns (774). However the power of the church was nominal and the town was often an ally of the Emperors. From 155 to 1508 it's history was that of the Montefeltro overlords; later it was ruled by the Della Roveres until 1631, when it finally became part of the Papal States, it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. The urban layout of Urbino is particularly interesting; the town is surrounded by a circle of ramparts built for Duke Francesco Maria I in 1507. Although not always of artistic interest, the palatial buildings in the old centre date back to the 15th-16th centuries and give the town an architecturally homogeneous character, not easily found in larger towns. An outstanding monument is the Palazzo Ducale, seat of the Montefeltro family, an important example of Renaissance architecture; the buildings surround a beautiful courtyard, and the famous façade, with its twin towers, is the symbol of the town. Other remarkable monuments are the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista (14th century, with outstanding frescoes), the Oratorio di San Giuseppe (16th century, with a coeval stucco crib), Church of San Francesco (14th century, Romanesque-Gothic with later additions), the House of Raffaello (15th century), the Gothic Church of St. Domini (14th century).