Real Italy offers the perfect holiday rental location in Le Marche at La Chiesa di Santo Stefano, and from this lovely villa you can explore the delights of the beautiful surrounding countryside.

Le Marche is a glorious and unspoilt region of Italy, full of wonderful scenery, lovely beaches and a plethora of places of interest – from historical sites such as Loreto to the stunning caves of Frasassi, and La Chiesa di Santo Stefano offers a unique holiday rental villa in the heart of the Le Marche region.  The fact that it is still a relatively unknown area in comparison to Tuscany and Umbria is a significant part of its charm, with few souvenir shops, no crowds and yet so much to see and do – and all in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

The region has a rich and varied history, and is crammed with buildings of interest.  Many of the small walled hill towns are well worth a visit, and if you love visiting old churches you will not be disappointed!  With several churches dating back to the 11th century, and other more recent churches resplendent with stunning frescoes, there are many delights in store for you.

If art is your main interest, there are some excellent local galleries displaying work from regional artists, with other galleries displaying work by Titian, Tintoretto and Raphael.  Visit the gallery in San Severino, housed in the 15th century Plazzo Manuzzini where works of art by local artists are arranged in chronological order from the first quarter of the 13th century, depicting the history of the town and the course of local events, or see the magnificent frescoes at the Basilica San Nichola at Tolentino.

Each year, the main town of the area – Macerata – hosts a celebrated opera festival towards the end of July and early August.  The operas all take place within the magnificent outdoor Sferisterio, and attract an international crowd.  The whole region is alive with festivals throughout the summer, and the local town of Treia, less than 6 kilometres from La Chiesa di Santo Stefano, is home to the famous Disfida del Bracciale – a unique ball game played against the walls of the old town.

If you have young children, there are plenty of places to visit.  Whilst most are content to play in the pool at Santo Stefano, others like to explore further afield.  The water park at Verde Azzurro is packed with exciting water slides and pools, and the beaches along the Adriatic coast are very safe for swimming, with lovely surrounding countryside and some excellent beach side restaurants..

Or you might want to take the children to the caves at Frassasi, where they can see some of the most amazing stalagmites and stalactites. 

If you love shopping, there are of course some wonderful shops for clothes and food, but more important to most visitors is the opportunity to visit the incredible designer outlets.  Some are simply small rooms tacked onto one of the thousands of shoe and handbag manufacturers, and others are stunning purpose built stores.  The Tod’s outlet has to be the biggest outlet store we have ever seen, and although the Prada store is much smaller with less choice, it is still well worth a visit.  With the Armani factory outlet just over 30 minutes away as well, it really is a shopper’s paradise.

The food is truly Italian, and whether you love fresh fish, home made pasta, or just a local pizza you are unlikely to be disappointed by your meal – or by the price!  The wines of the region are delicious, but the Italians like to keep the best for themselves, so you will sample wines that you will never find at home.

For golf enthusiasts, Santo Stefano boasts its own 5 practice golf holes – perfect for developing your short game - but there is an excellent course at nearby Conero, with others a little further afield.

Whatever your preference, you will find something to interest you in the Le Marche region, and wherever you go, you can expect a warm welcome. Little English is spoken locally, but over recent years the shopkeepers and restaurant waiters have become adept at understanding the sign language of the English - particularly when ordering meat!

To find out more about Le Marche, there is an excellent website which provides extensive information about the area.  Visit www.le-marche.com to find out more about this wonderful region of Italy, or go to our downloads pages to see a list of suggested activities..