What's great about living in the southern part of Le Marche ?

This southern part of the region from Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno feels especially authentic, with medieval hill-towns, fertile farmland, sandy beaches, and a touch of rugged mountain wilderness. Here’s why living in the southern Marche is so special:

Landscape & Nature

• Sea and mountains close together: In 45 minutes you can breakfast by the Adriatic in Porto San Giorgio or Pedaso, then hike in the Monti Sibillini National Park.

• The Sibillini Mountains: They are steeped in legend (like the Sibyl cave, see our previous blog piece), perfect for hiking, skiing in winter, or exploring wildflower meadows in spring.

• Gentle hills: South Marche is patchwork countryside — olive groves, vineyards, sunflowers, and medieval towns perched on ridges.

• Beaches: Smaller, family-friendly seaside towns with sandy beaches like Cupra Marittima, Grottammare, and San Benedetto del Tronto (famous for its palm-lined promenade).

Culture & History

• Ascoli Piceno: (Picture above) A gem of a city, with Renaissance palaces and the stunning Piazza del Popolo (often called one of Italy’s most beautiful squares). It’s also the birthplace of the famous olive all’ascolana.

• Hilltowns everywhere: Offida (lace-making tradition and excellent wine), Fermo (with its grand piazza and Roman cisterns), Sarnano, Ripatransone, and Moresco (a rare heptagonal medieval tower).

• Festivals: Quintana jousting tournaments in Ascoli, San Ginesio, Servigliano and Fermo, summer sagre celebrating local food (from truffles to fried olives), and religious processions that have remained unchanged for centuries.

Food & Wine

• Culinary pride:

  • Olive all’ascolana (stuffed and fried olives, born here).

  • Vincisgrassi (regional baked pasta dish).

  • Lamb, truffles, porcini, and lentils from the Sibillini hills.

• Wines of the south:

  • Rosso Piceno (robust red blend).

  • Pecorino (white wine, crisp and aromatic).

  • Passerina (light, elegant white).

• Dining out is still inexpensive compared to northern Italy or big tourist regions.

Lifestyle & Atmosphere

• Authenticity: Fewer tourists than other parts of Italy, even summer feels more “local” and relaxed.

• Community spirit: Villages are small enough that people know each other, but welcoming to newcomers.

• La dolce vita pace: The south feels even more laid-back — olive harvests in autumn, slow summer nights in piazzas, and winter evenings by the fireplace with hearty mountain food.

• Artisan traditions: Lace in Offida, shoemaking in the Fermo area (many luxury brands quietly produce here, not only shoes but also luxury handbags), ceramics, and traditional weaving.

Practical Advantages

• Cost of living: Living and property in countryside villages is still very affordable.

• Climate: Hot summers, mild springs and autumns, sunshine still in wintertime, and snowy winters in the mountains — a good balance for year-round living.

• Accessibility:

  • Close to Ancona and Perugia airports.

  • Rome is 3 hours by car or bus.

  • The coast is lined with convenient train stations.

• Healthcare & services: Brand new Hospitals in Fermo and Amandola, San Benedetto and Ascoli also have hospitals. Good air ambulance service, and smaller towns have clinics.

In short: Southern Marche is Italy slowed down even further — it’s where the grandeur of the Sibillini meets the gentleness of the Adriatic, where traditions are still lived daily, and where you can enjoy a high quality of life without breaking the bank.