Hill towns of the Marche

4 days · ~7 h 35 driving ·Hill towns, Castles

A loop from Ancona through the hills between the Apennines and the Adriatic. It starts on the southern coast at Torre di Palme, high above the sea, and at Offida, known for its bobbin lace, then climbs towards the Sibillini mountains at Sarnano and San Ginesio. Treia, Cingoli and Arcevia follow along the ridges, and the route ends in the north among walled towns: Corinaldo, Mondavio with its Renaissance fortress, and Gradara, whose castle is linked to the story of Paolo and Francesca told by Dante.

Day by day

Driving times are approximate, from OpenStreetMap roads without traffic; long legs are rougher estimates. The Google Maps links give up-to-date times.

Day 1
~2 h 30 driving · 6 h visiting
1. AnconaLeaving from
2. ~50 min driving · 65 km
  Torre di PalmeMarche
3. ~40 min driving · 39 km
  OffidaMarche
4. ~1 h driving · 59 km
  SarnanoMarche
5. Overnight in Sarnano
Day 2
~1 h 20 driving · 6 h visiting
1. ~15 min driving · 13 km
  San GinesioMarche
2. ~40 min driving · 39 km
  TreiaMarche
3. ~25 min driving · 18 km
  CingoliMarche
4. Overnight in Cingoli
Day 3
~1 h 35 driving · 6 h visiting
1. ~50 min driving · 51 km
  ArceviaMarche
2. ~35 min driving · 30 km
  CorinaldoMarche
3. ~10 min driving · 11 km
  MondavioMarche
4. Overnight in Mondavio
Day 4
~2 h 10 driving · 2 h visiting
1. ~55 min driving · 69 km
  GradaraMarche
2. ~1 h 15 driving · 94 km
  AnconaReturning to

Day by day

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4