Visiting Le Marche this week!

[Steveh]

Hi
I will be arriving in Ancona on Friday 11th for a long weekend (returning tues) to explore Le Marche and Umbria/Tuscany fringes.
I posted on the old forum a while ago and had some useful replies as to must visit places / places to stay etc. With the new format I cannot access these replies and was using them as a guide for my itinerary so I would welcome any new advice on the above and if anyone remembers their previous response, please re-post (in particular Charles Joseph - are you out there?)
Also how's the weather there at the moment - can I get across the sibilini mountains from Ascoli towards Assisi without encountering snow?

Thanks & Regards

Steve

[Charles Joseph]

Hi I'm still out there

send me a pm with your number and I'll give you a call before you go.

Charles

[Angelo]

Hi Steve!

Where exactly are you going? Southern Marche (i.e. Ascoli Piceno, Sibillini area?), or near Ancona?

For the first solution, definitely worthwhile is Ascoli Piceno (I wrote a small article about it, I hope you'll find it useful: http://www.angelorecchi.com/nuovo_bl...f-meletti.html)

If you'd like to visit Macerata, I'll definitely recommend Osteria dei Fiori, just behind the main square. It's the osteria where actors go to have dinner after acting. Therefore, you may happen to meet some "strange" people. The atmosphere is very relaxed and calm. Good first corses, and good wine. For the second corse, follow your instinct.

In case you happen to be around Ancona (what a pity, I'm not there this weekend, I was very happy to meet you!), go to Senigallia, which really deserves a visit. To sleep, I recommend Hotel Duchi della Rovere, the best in the area (tell them I talked to you about them, I think they can offer you a discount), www.hotelduchidellarovere.it. To eat, simply go around the city centre, and find the place you like most. A good place to eat fish is "Il Cuoco di Bordo". Remind that Senigallia is worldwide known for fish. You can also have an appetizer at Anikò, the fishing kiosk.

In case you'd like to know some more, feel free to email me.

Ciao!
Angelo

ps: I'm not sure you won't encounter snow, at least in the Sibillini area.

[Angelo]

Of course, I meant "course", not "corse"!

[Steveh]

Thanks Angelo! and again to Charles - your help is appreciated. Due to the weather it seems like I will be concentrating on Ascoli Piceno and Urbino (and back to Ancona) and whatever I come accross in between that I can access! So if there are any more gems that I should make sure I run into then pls let me know.
Cheers
Steve

[Angelo]

Urbino?
Then go to Caffè Raffaello, in via Raffaello, just 50 metres above the main square. A glass of wine and some good Pecorino or Salame might be a good appetizer, or, if you take some more food, a good light lunch.

Otherwise, go to Osteria l'Angolo Divino, via Sant'Andrea, not far from Caffè Raffaello. Near the Osteria, you can find a very nice shop called something like "extrabilia", or so. Might be interesting.

In Urbino, don't miss the Palazzo Ducale, and its beautiful facade, which can be seen only from the hill in front of the town. Simply ask to go there.

You can also park the car and take the elevator, but it will cost you something. If you don't mind walking on steepy (but not too long) roads, then park before the walls, nearby Via Saffi (take a look on some map on the web), then take Via Saffi and in 5 minutes you'll reach the centre.

Have fun!
Ciao
Angelo