Situated in the Ancona countryside, Arcevia has various tourist attractions, nine castles and lots of restaurants that serve good local produce. It was once called Rocca Contrada, due to a document that was found in 1817 that described the place with the name Rocka de Contrado, or Rocca di Contrado or Corrado. The most characteristic castle is that of Palazzo, on Monte Caudino 516 metres above sea level. Because of the town's position, its urban structure is on a series of levels and there are characteristic back streets, entrance ways and quirky little steps.

Perched on the top of a hill in the green Senigallia countryside, the pretty little town of Corinaldo is a real rural idyll. It was the centre of feudal battles until 1360, when it was completely destroyed by the papal army. It was then rebuilt by merging together numerous existing villages around the original centre and by strengthening the town walls that defended the population from successive attacks. These defensive walls date back to the 14th and 15th centuries and are some of the best preserved walls in the region. Visitors to Corinaldo should have a good wander round the numerous back streets with their little steps, which cut across the town. The Sperone Tower (18 metres in height) and the Scorticatore Tower (15 metres) are particularly noteworthy. Corinaldo is also famous for its Halloween Festivities and the whole town dresses up for the occasion, attracting lots of tourists and celebrities.

At 700 metres above sea level a group of hermits decided to build the foundations of what is today one of the most popular monasteries in the Marche region. As well as being a source of information about the ancient traditions of the monks, Fonte Avellana is also a starting point for delightful walks in the surrounding area and a base for more expert walkers heading off towards Monte Catria.

The Gola del Furlo is a national wildlife reserve where walkers, mountain bikers and animal lovers can experience the thrills of the great outdoors. The tourist information point at the Gola del Furlo can provide you with maps for lots of different paths, and they organise free excursions and provide audio guides to help you find out more about the flora and fauna of this earthly paradise.

The Frasassi Caves are considered to be the largest series of caves in Europe and are situated in Genga in the province of Ancona. The temperature inside is constantly at around 12/14° C, which allows the stalactites and stalagmites to grow millimetres each year. The caves cover a total of about 30 kilometres: the route open to the public is about 1.5 km long and some other areas can be visited by joining caving trips accompanied by an expert.

Gradara castle stands on a hill on the border between Marche and Romagna, with an amazing view over the Adriatic and along the Marche coastline.

It is particularly well-known for the tragic love story between Paolo and Francesca, which Dante Alighieri talks about in his Divine Comedy.

A visit to this town cannot fail to include a walk along the "Camminamenti della Ronda" i.e. the defensive wall that encircles the town. From here you can enjoy really lovely views, which are particularly spectacular in the evenings.

This enchanting castle was built about 15 km from Arcevia and is one of the oldest examples of military architecture in the region. It has an impressive brick defensive wall, a circular tower with arrow slits in it and a stunning entrance bridge which dates back to the 15th century.

This picturesque castle is situated in the characteristic village of Nidastore on the border with the province of Pesaro. The name Nidastore comes from the falcons that were used for hunting in medieval times. In 1462 Pius II finally recognised the castle as part of Rocca Contrada. The current building dates back to the second half of the 15th century, when the castle was reconstructed by the town of Rocca Contrada.

Want to take a walk round all of Italy's main attractions in just one day? Miniature Italy is the place for you! This fun park is easy to get to (leave the A14 motorway at the Rimini Nord toll booth) and has lots of shows and rides for children. Those seeking more of an adrenalin rush can have a go on the Sling Shot, where you get thrown up 55 metres up in the air in 1.2 seconds! If that all sounds like too much for you then don't worry - you can still have a lovely day wandering round Florence, the Uffizi gallery and the Vatican City!

At 280 metres above sea level stands Mondavio, a perfectly preserved village where it seems like you are still living in the Medieval Age or the Renaissance. The main point of interest for tourists is the Rocca, a fort that looks as if it has just been built but actually dates back to the Malatesta family. The inside of the fort is particularly interesting with its medieval style decor, weapons and constructions. The famous torture chamber was once used for heretics and people the Court did not approve of – nowadays it is open to the public and houses an exhibition of ancient torture instruments.

Ancient tradition says that the Archangel Gabriel transported the walls of the Sacred Cave to Loreto, whereas more in-depth research and studies suggest that this was actually the house of the Madonna and it was brought here from Nazareth by the Angeli family. The structure of the Holy House has little to do with local architecture of the time and the materials used were not present in the area. For years now Loreto has been the capital of Marian worship and pilgrims and visitors come here from all over the world. The huge sanctuary, built around the Holy House, stands out against the hill and can even be seen from the coast. It houses a museum and art gallery with works by the artist Lorenzo Lotto.

Ever taken a close up photo of a cheetah? Or watched an elephant unwind in the shade of the trees? The Safari Park is situated on a hill in Falconara Marittima and covers an area of around 60,000 square metres. The park aims to raise awareness, particularly among children, of how we can protect animals and the environment and it gives visitors the chance to find out about species that are only found in very far off places. Members of Touring Club Italiano get a discount on tickets.

If you are familiar with Giacomo Leopardi's Theory of Pleasure, don't miss a trip to his house in the town of Recanati. Just a few kilometres from the sea and surrounded by rolling hills, Recanati has lots to offer in terms of history and culture, with churches, palaces and museums, plus nature and the stunning view from the hill of Monte Tabor, from the famous line "sempre caro mi fu quest'ermo colle". Today the area is a park near the home of Leopardi and the Centre for Leopardi Studies.

In the middle of the Montefeltro region, Skypark gives you the chance to have a different type of day out and enjoy some great outdoor fun. Adults and children can put their courage, balance and control skills to the test on suspended walkways, pulleys, climbing nets and tunnels high up in the trees. The park has expert staff that can provide instructions and give you all the equipment you need for the different routes, which are divided up in terms of how difficult they are. Casual, comfortable clothing is recommended, plus walking shoes.

Known as the symbol of the Ideal City, no artistic and cultural trip to the area would be complete without paying a visit to Urbino with its Ducal Palace, old town and the house where Raffaello was born. Clark Kenneth described the Ducal Palace as the finest of all Renaissance buildings: its facade was created for Federico di Montefeltro and there are numerous works by Raffaello and Piero della Francesca, plus the National Gallery of the Marche where you can admire the Madonna of Senigallia and the Flagellation of Christ. There are decorations by Botticelli in Federico di Montefeltro's study.