South-Central Marche 2025: Ancona
Unveiling Marche's Heart, a Symphony of Sea and Rolling Hills
A Journey Through the Provinces of Ancona and Macerata. Welcome to Marche, where verdant hills embrace the Adriatic shore and centuries of art and culture await.
Highlights:
- Historic Theatres - The magnificent Sferisterio of Macerata, a unique neoclassical structure in Europe, Teatro Lauro Rossi in Macerata, Teatro Pergolesi in Jesi and Teatro delle Muse in Ancona, home to renowned opera and theatre seasons.
- Urban Treasures - Explore the beauty and unique character of central and southern Marche through the cities of Ancona, Tolentino, Macerata, and Jesi.
- Opera performances in the Marche region - “Il Trovatore” – Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on the drama “El Trovador” by Antonio García Gutiérrez or “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” – Opera by Gioachino Rossini, based on the play of the same name by Pierre Beaumarchais.
Lenght of Tour: 5 days / 4 nights
Suggested time: October - December
8 / 11 October 2025 | 10 / 13 October 2025
3 / 6 December 2025 | 5 / 8 December 2025
Meander through Ancona’s bustling harbor and hidden alleyways, uncover Tolentino’s Renaissance charm, then revel in Macerata’s Baroque elegance.
Finally, wander medieval streets and ancient fortifications of Jesi. Off the beaten path, this unique itinerary unlocks the region’s best kept secrets: charming theatres, hilltop villages and panoramas that captivate the heart.
Perfect for discerning travelers looking for authentic discoveries and memorable surprises.
Travel Itinerary
1st day - Arrival in Ancona
- Arrival in Ancona on your own. Accommodation in reserved rooms at the Grand Hotel Palace 4*.
- In the afternoon, meet with the guide for a city tour. The itinerary begins near the Teatro delle Muse, one of the main theatres in the Marche region. From here, you can start the steep climb (about 15 minutes at a relaxed pace) to Colle Guasco, along a scenic route leading to the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, the iconic monument of the city. Perched in a commanding position, the church is a magnificent example of Romanesque-Byzantine architecture and offers breathtaking views over the Gulf of Ancona.
- Descending back towards the sea, you will reach the evocative Old Port, where the Arch of Trajan stands. After the visit, return to the historic center passing through Piazza del Senato and arriving at the scenographic Piazza del Plebiscito, also known as “Piazza del Papa”. Here you can breathe the city’s most authentic atmosphere, surrounded by historic buildings, outdoor cafes, and charming corners.
- Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2 – Ancona › Tolentino › Macerata
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Transfer by your own means to Tolentino. Visit to the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino, featuring its Giottesque chapel, and walk around the main square, featuring a tower displaying three different clocks.
- Transfer to Macerata and guided tour of the Arena Sferisterio (Lu Sferisteriu). Walk to the city center and lunch at a restaurant with a traditional tasting menu.
- After lunch, stroll through Piazza della Libertà to admire the Town Hall, the Loggia dei Mercanti, and the Prefecture Palace.
- Continue on foot to the Basilica della Madonna della Misericordia by Luigi Vanvitelli and its small, wonderful Sanctuary, rich in frescoes, marbles, and stuccoes.
- The day in Macerata ends with a guided visit to the Teatro Lauro Rossi, a stunning 18th-century jewel.
- Return to Ancona by private means.
- Free dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 – Ancona › Jesi
- Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the guide.
- Transfer by your own means to Jesi and walking tour of the city, with its charming historic center and medieval walls.
- The visit begins at Piazza Federico II, a spacious and evocative square traditionally considered the birthplace of the Swabian emperor. A few steps away stands the Cathedral of San Settimio, with its imposing neoclassical facade.
- Continuing the walk through medieval views and cobbled streets, you will reach the Palazzo della Signoria, a splendid example of Renaissance architecture and now home to the civic library, and finally Teatro Pergolesi.
- Return to Ancona using your own transportation. Free lunch.
- Afterwards, attend the opera of “Il Trovatore” or “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” at the Teatro delle Muse.
IL TROVATORE
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano and Leone Emanuele Bardare from the play El Trobador by Antonio Garcia Gutiérrez
Music: Giuseppe Verdi | Conductor: Andriy Yurkevych | Direction: Giuseppe Dipasquale
Cast: Serban Vasile, Salome Jicia, Valentina Pernozzoli, Yongheng Dong, Amadi Lagha, Antonella Granata, Alessandro Fiocchetti
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
Opera buffa in two acts with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini based on the comedy by Pierre Carón de Beaumarchais
Music: Gioachino Rossini | Conductor: Jacopo Brusa | Direction: Damiano Michieletto
Cast: Pietro Adaini, Giuseppe Toia, Aleksandra Meteleva, Hae Kang, Alessandro Spina, Laura Khamzatova, Davide Chiodo. - Return to the hotel on foot. Free dinner. Overnight.
Day 4 › departure from Ancona
- Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. End of the itinerary and individual departures.
The visits order may change for operational needs without changing the content.
Proposal for an indicative itinerary.
The tour can be modified and adapted to any requests for further insights on topics chosen by the custom.
EXTRA ITINERARIES
Enhance your experience with one of our optional itinerary extensions, each offering an extra overnight stay for a more complete discovery of the Marche region.
- Option A invites you to spend a full day exploring the natural and spiritual wonders of Genga, concluding with an overnight stay and departure the following morning.
- Option B builds upon Option A by adding enriching visits on your final day, including a stop in the fascinating town of Fabriano before heading home.
Option A
Day 4 – Ancona › Genga
- Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
- Transfer by your own means to Genga, a small medieval city nestled among the rolling hills of the Marche region. Upon arrival, continue by car to the starting point of a short walk leading to the Temple of Valadier, an evocative neoclassical church set within a natural cave. The visit is self-guided and involves a short uphill walk on a paved path (about 15 minutes at a relaxed pace).
- Return to the starting point and drive to the large San Vittore parking area, where you can leave your vehicle and take a complementary shuttle to the Grotte di Frasassi.
- Entrance and guided tour led by an expert who will accompany the group through a breathtaking underground route filled with enormous stalactites and stalagmites, crystal-clear lakes, and the famous “Infinity Room” (Sala dell’Infinito), one of the largest underground chambers in Europe.
- At the end of the visit, return to the parking area and continue by private vehicle to the nearby village of Pierosara (about 5–10 minutes by bus).
- Lunch at a traditional local restaurant in a panoramic location offering stunning views of the Apennines.
- After lunch, transfer by private vehicle to the Hotel Le Grotte 4*, a nature-surrounded property featuring a spa, swimming pool, and on-site restaurant.
- Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
Day 5 – departure from Genga
- Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
- End of the itinerary and individual departures.
Option B
Day 4 – Ancona › Genga
- Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
- Transfer by your own means to Genga, a small medieval city nestled among the rolling hills of the Marche region. Upon arrival, continue by car to the starting point of a short walk leading to the Temple of Valadier, an evocative neoclassical church set within a natural cave. The visit is self-guided and involves a short uphill walk on a paved path (about 15 minutes at a relaxed pace).
- Return to the starting point and drive to the large San Vittore parking area, where you can leave your vehicle and take a complementary shuttle to the Grotte di Frasassi.
- Entrance and guided tour led by an expert who will accompany the group through a breathtaking underground route filled with enormous stalactites and stalagmites, crystal-clear lakes, and the famous “Infinity Room” (Sala dell’Infinito), one of the largest underground chambers in Europe.
- At the end of the visit, return to the parking area and continue by private vehicle to the nearby village of Pierosara (about 5–10 minutes by bus).
- Lunch at a traditional local restaurant in a panoramic location offering stunning views of the Apennines.
- After lunch, transfer by private vehicle to the Hotel Le Grotte 4*, a nature-surrounded property featuring a spa, swimming pool, and on-site restaurant.
- Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
Day 5 – Genga › Fabriano › departure
- Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
- Meet your guide at the hotel and transfer by your own means to Fabriano, a city rich in art and artisan traditions, renowned worldwide for its paper production since the 13th century.
- Visit the Paper and Watermark Museum, housed in the former San Domenico convent. The museum showcases the history of papermaking through hands-on demonstrations and reconstructions of ancient production techniques.
- After the visit, enjoy a walk through Fabriano’s historic center, including entrance to the Cathedral of San Venanzio, which features stunning Baroque and Renaissance frescoes, as well as medieval architectural elements.
- The tour continues with an external stop at the nearby and impressive Teatro Gentile da Fabriano, an elegant 19th-century theatre named after the city’s famed painter.
- Free lunch. End of the itinerary and individual departures.
