Unknown Central Italy: Marche and Abruzzo

Bus trip 7 days / 6 nights

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival in or around Ancona. Check-in, welcome cocktail, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 2: Pesaro – Urbino

Drive to Pesaro, the birthplace of composer Gioacchino Rossini, with highlights such as the Cathedral, Villa Ruggeri and Rossini’s house. Continue to Urbino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Renaissance gem. Under Duke Federico da Montefeltro, Urbino became a centre of art and culture. Don’t miss the Ducal Palace, the Cathedral and Raphael’s birthplace.

Day 3: Ancona – Jesi

Short visit to Ancona, whose harbour has been a vital trade centre since ancient times. Stroll through the old town to see San Ciriaco Cathedral and the remains of a Roman amphitheatre. Continue to Jesi, the wine capital of the Marche and birthplace of Emperor Frederick II. The walled historic centre features the elegant Palazzo della Signoria and the Pergolesi Theatre.

Day 4: Loreto – Macerata – Ascoli Piceno

Visit the pilgrimage town of Loreto with its “Santa Casa,” encased in marble in the 16th century by order of Pope Julius II. Continue to Macerata for a walk through the old town and the Piazza della Libertà with the Palazzo dei Diamanti. Then on to Ascoli Piceno, a charming town surrounded by rivers and medieval walls. Enjoy the lively Piazza del Popolo and a coffee at the historic “Caffè Meletti.” Visit San Emidio Cathedral and Palazzo Comunale before continuing to Pescara for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Gran Sasso massif - L’Aquila

Scenic drive through the Gran Sasso massif via Prati di Tivo and Teramo. Visit L’Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, and admire the famous “Fontana delle 99 Cannelle,” the 16th-century fortress housing the National Museum, and the Romanesque-Gothic church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Chieti – San Clemente a Casaunia – Sulmona

Drive to Chieti with an optional visit to the National Archaeological Museum, home to the famous statue of the Warrior of Capestrano. Continue to the Cistercian church of San Clemente a Casauria and enjoy a picnic at the Pescara spring, a WWF nature reserve. Proceed to Sulmona, birthplace of the poet Ovid and now famous for its colourful sugared almonds, the “Confetti.” Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Return home

Breakfast at the hotel and journey home.