Italy: Le Marche Region

The Le Marche region is situated between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. This series of small Renaissance towns is only a two to three hour drive north of Rome. Ascoli Piceno is a town is this region with the popular tourist attraction of the Church of San Francesco. This church features a stained glass window depicting Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a modern day martyr killed in the concentration camp of Auschwitz. Along the route of towns sits San Benedetto del Tronto, the largest fishing port on the Adriatic. The town is situated on white, sandy beaches, perfect for a barefoot stroll.

Macerata is a walled, medieval hill town that does not permit motor traffic. The main attraction of this town is the Sferisterio, a handball arena built in the 1800's now used for plays and operas due to its exceptional acoustics. One of the final stops on the journey is the feudal town of Urbino. It was the birthplace of the great Raphael and Bramante, the designer of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The town is a community centered around the main palace. Tours are available of the palace, but only limited rooms can be visited.

If exploring the Renaissance past of Italy is what you seek, look to the Le Marche region along the Adriatic coast. Here, visitors will find a route of small towns that have been unchanged by tourism and industry, allowing adventurers to step back into the past.