Marche Region Traditions

In the Marche region traditions are still very strong, this is a region of Italy that remains true to its roots and heritage.

That said the best part of it all is that everyone here knows how to have lots of fun and it's infectious too, come along and join in.

Le Marche is in many ways one of the homes of the Renaissance – second only to Tuscany and Florence .

Many of the greatest architects and artists of the period were from le Marche. Names such as Raphael and da Fabriano are now world famous. Urbino is at the heart of this great legacy - once home to Raphael himself as well as to Paolo Uccello and Piero della Francesca.

The past, and the Marche region traditions, are often most evident in the festivals that are still of great importance. Nearly every town however big or small has a festa.

Ascoli Piceno by Jim DeLutes

Ascoli Piceno and La Quintana

The Ascoli Piceno festa known as La Quintana - held on the first Sunday in August is the most famous festival in the Marche.

The jousting tournament between the town’s various regions is the centrepiece of the festa and is taken very seriously by all Ascoli Piceno residents. The passion and emotion is intense. A great festival that also celebrate the great culinary traditions of the Marches is that of Treia.

Held around the middle of May, it is basically a cook-off between the towns best cooks. The best part about it is that lucky passers-by get offered some of the best traditional Marche dishes, prepared by the best cooks. It is worth turning up just for the eating.

Festival of Piobicco

One of the longest festivals held at the end of the first week in September is the Festival of Piobicco. The festa goes on for an entire week and celebrates the fifteenth century, with period theater and a procession of ancient horse-drawn coaches amongst much else. One of the more obscure traditions is the ugliness festival.

This is becoming a global movement and interested and suitably qualified candidates are welcome to apply. More than 20,000 people are now members.

The philosophy is that once you accept your ugliness and revel in it you are liberated and free from preconceptions and inhibitions. You save yourself a lot of worry and plastic surgery bills too!

The club has global ambitions and the aim is for every town and country to have a club - so if you qualify break free of your chains and start it up in your town!! 

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to traditions. Nearly every town has some traditional festivals but even outside of festa time – the culinary, artistic and other Marche region traditions are very much in evidence.

Our favorite places to stay in Le Marche are these...