L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano buttery pasta or fried eggs. T h e T o w n s a n d Culture Le Marche is home to 22 small towns found on the national I Borghi più belli d'Italia list – Italy's most beautiful villages. Nestled in a river valley, perched atop an emerald hill, or hovering o v e r a b l u e w a t e r s h o r e , Marche's villages are beauti- fully preserved portals to a n o t h e r t i m e . N o t y e a r marred by crowds, their nar- row medieval streets lace together ages old structures and piazzas where life con- tinues as it has for centuries. Festivals, museums, cafes, and the beautiful ordinary abound, ready to be enjoyed. Larger towns are worthy of a visit, even if a bit more populated. Ascoli Piceno to the far south is home to perhaps one of Italy's most beautiful squares, Piazza d e l P o p o l o . I t s g l o s s y travertine floor is surround- e d b y e l e g a n t b u i l d i n g s , watched over by the 13 th c e n t u r y C h u r c h o f S a n Francesco. Stopping to sip an iconic Anisette liquor at the historic Caffè Meletti is a must. Another don't- m i s s i s a s t r o l l a c r o s s U n i v e r s i t y o f U r b i n o , founded in 1506 and still v i b r a n t t o d a y . H o m e t o R a p h a e l , c r e a t o r s a n d thinkers were drawn here in the 15 th century due to the s t e w a r d s h i p o f D u k e F e d e r i c o d a M o n t e f e l t r o . T o u r s a r e o f f e r e d o f t h e P a l a z z o D u c a l e , a R e n a i s s a n c e m a s t e r p i e c e built by the influential Duke and currently home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche. Views from atop Urbino's impressive crest a r e s p e c t a c u l a r , a s w e l l . M a n y o t h e r v i b r a n t a n d n o t a b l e t o w n s s u c h a s Ancona and Pescara are also certainly worth a visit. T h e N a t u r a l A s c o l i ' s s t i l l f u n c t i o n i n g R o m a n b r i d g e . V i r t u a l l y u n t o u c h e d s i n c e i t s c o n - struction in the 1 st century BC, the bridge still serves foot, bike, and road traffic in and out of the town. Urbino, although a rela- tively small city, is a cultural g i a n t . I t s s t e e p , w i n d i n g s t r e e t s l e a d t o t h e Landscape The Marchiagiani take their natural treasures seri- ously. Protected status cov- ers eight natural regions, including such gems as the a n c i e n t F u r l o P a s s . Emerald green waters of the C a n d i g l i a n o R i v e r c u t between craggy peaks creat- ing stunning beauty here. If t h e r e ' s n o t i m e t o s t o p a l o n g s i d e t h e r i v e r f o r a swim, travelers continue on via the tunnel dug during Emperor Vespasian's rule in 77 B.C. Did you know Marche has a " G r a n d C a n y o n " ? T h e Lame Rosse, nicknamed Italy's Grand Canyon, is a w o n d e r l a n d o f d i s t i n c t ruddy-hued stratifications of peaks, towers and forma- tions. Hiking is rewarded w i t h o t h e r - w o r l d l y v i e w s and plenty of photo ops! If cooler, darker environments are more to your liking, find your way to one of Italy's top c a v e r n s , t h e G r o t t e d i Frasassi. Tours from easy to challenging provide spec- tacular experiences in one of Europe's largest cave sys- tems. With so much to offer, Le Marche is a perfect blend of culture and history, unsur- p a s s e d n a t u r a l b e a u t y , charming towns, hearty cui- sine, and well-preserved tra- d i t i o n s … t h e b e s t o f t h e authentic Italian experience all within one region. And yet so undiscovered and rel- atively unknown…at least for now. Olive all'Ascolana are a culinary specialty of Le Marche (Photo: Andreadonetti/Dreamstime) Continued from page 26 LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE A view of Urbino (Photo: Freesurf69/Dreamstime)

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