From the Adriatic to the Hills: Marche's Outdoor Beauty Route

Exploring the landscapes of the Marche reveals a region with a beating heart and multiple identities. At its core there’s an authentic Italy, reflected in the rhythms of everyday life, while those identities unfold across a landscape that shifts character within just a few kilometers: the sea, the coastal villages, and the gentle green hills that gradually give way to the inland countryside.

It’s a truly magical land, yet not a place we can take in all at once. Instead, we need to experience it step by step, along a route that reveals unexpected stories, flavors, and landscapes.

Our itinerary through the province of Pesaro and Urbino begins here and unfolds across art towns, spa villages, and striking landscapes. An outdoor Beauty Route designed for those who choose to slow down and let themselves be surprised along the way.

In a region where its wonders are not concentrated in a single place but spread across the coast, rolling hills, and inland villages, our journey becomes a matter of exploration and discovery. The outdoor Beauty Route in the Marche was created from the desire to showcase a land that is as diverse, rich, and distinctive as it is.

There’s no single main destination that stands out above the others, nor just one way to travel through it. The locations unfold as part of a wider network, all connected to one another, each with its own clearly defined identity.

This idea of diffused beauty shapes our itinerary: 7 selected stages that highlight a mosaic made of cities, historic villages, coastal towns, and spa destinations.

The route begins in Pesaro, a natural gateway between the coast and the first hill ranges, a city that already embodies the essence of the territory we are about to explore. From here, we continue to the nearby Gabicce Mare, on the border with Romagna, before heading to the southernmost point of our journey, Marotta–Mondolfo.

We then move back up along the coast to Fano, before heading into the spectacular inland of the Marche region: Tavullia, Vallefoglia, and Monte Grimano Terme immerse us in a unique atmosphere, shaped by nature and wellness.

Facing the Adriatic Sea and nestled between the coastline and the promontory of Monte San Bartolo, Pesaro is where this journey comes into direct contact with the urban and coastal dimension of the province.

Its waterfront marks the ideal starting point of the Itinerario della Bellezza, thanks to a continuous stretch of beaches and cycling paths that reflect the city's everyday connection with the sea and its identity as a place best experienced on a bike.

Yet just a short walk inland reveals a compact and charming historic center, framed by the elegant Piazza del Popolo, the Ducal Palace, and a network of atmospheric arcaded streets.

Pesaro is also known as the City of Music and the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini, a legacy that still shapes its identity today. This cultural heritage comes to life in its performance venues, from the Teatro Rossini, the heart of its operatic tradition, to the Teatro Sperimentale, which showcases more contemporary productions.

How to get to Pesaro?


Pesaro is located on the Adriatic coast in northern Marche, about one hour from Bologna and less than two hours from Ancona. It’s easily accessible by train along the Adriatic railway line and by car via the A14 motorway, with a dedicated exit for the city.

What to see and do:

- Seafront and beaches;

- Historic center: Piazza del Popolo and the Ducal Palace;

- Theaters and opera culture in the City of Music.

Leaving Pesaro behind, we continue north until we reach Gabicce Mare, the last municipality in the Marche region before the border with Emilia-Romagna.

The town stretches along a wide, well-equipped beach that runs the full length of its seafront. Behind it, the profile of Monte San Bartolo dominates the landscape and marks the beginning of Monte San Bartolo Natural Park, a protected area that characterizes this stretch of coastline between Gabicce and Pesaro.

This charming destination unfolds across two distinct levels: on one side, the seaside town; on the other, the hilltop village of Gabicce Monte and the promontory overlooking the Adriatic coast. In just a few minutes, we can move from the relaxation of the beach to the appeal of a nature hike, surrounded by spectacular views.

How to get from Pesaro to Gabicce Mare?

Gabicce Mare is about 15–17 km from Pesaro, along the Adriatic coast. By car, the journey takes around 15–20 minutes, while by train it takes roughly ten minutes to reach Cattolica–San Giovanni–Gabicce station, from which Gabicce Mare is easily accessible by local bus or taxi.

What to see and do:

- Gabicce Mare beach;


- Gabicce Monte and the historic village;


- Monte San Bartolo Natural Park.

While Gabicce Mare lies at the northern edge of the province, Marotta–Mondolfo is located south of Pesaro. This stop brings together two complementary identities: on one side, Marotta, overlooking the Adriatic and deeply connected to its maritime tradition; on the other, Mondolfo, a historic hilltop village perched just inland.

Marotta stretches along a long coastal strip where the seafront promenade, crossed by the Adriatic Cycle Route, accompanies daily life and reflects the area’s enduring connection to the sea.

From Marotta, heading inland, we can reach Mondolfo in just a few minutes. Listed among Italy’s “Most Beautiful Villages” and enclosed by well-preserved defensive walls, the village retains squares, churches and narrow streets that feel suspended in time. Walking through its lanes takes us into a quieter dimension, more intimate and shaped by inland life and customs.

How to get from Gabicce Mare to Marotta–Mondolfo?

Marotta–Mondolfo is just under 50 km south of Gabicce Mare. By car, the coastal route takes around 30–35 minutes via the A14 motorway (Marotta–Mondolfo exit). By train, the town is served by the Marotta–Mondolfo station on the Adriatic railway line.

What to see and do:

- Marotta seafront and beaches;

- Adriatic Cycle Route;

- Historic village of Mondolfo.

Continuing along the coast, we reach Fano, one of the oldest cities in the Marche region and one of the richest stops in historical heritage along the entire Itinerary of Beauty. Founded by the Romans under the name Fanum Fortunae, it still preserves a unique legacy that accompanies every walk through the historic centre, among monuments, ancient walls and old streets.

The most iconic landmark is the Arch of Augustus, built in 9 AD and still today the main gateway to the historic center. From here, we can wander into a compact and lively town center, where traces of the Roman era, medieval buildings such as the splendid Palazzo del Podestà, and Renaissance architecture all coexist.

Just a few steps away, the sea appears again. The harbor, beaches and seafront remind us how closely Fano has always been linked to the Adriatic, a connection that continues to shape its identity alongside its historical heritage.

How to get from Marotta–Mondolfo to Fano?

Fano is about 13 km north of Marotta. Instead of taking the A14 motorway, we can follow the SS16 Adriatic state road that runs parallel to the sea. The journey takes around 20 minutes.

Alternatively, the city is easily reachable by train, with the station located just a short walk from the historic center.

What to see and do:

- Arch of Augustus;

- Palazzo del Podestà;

- Historic center of Fano;

- Harbor and seafront.

Leaving the coast behind, we head into the inland hills until we reach Tavullia, a small village that over the past few decades has become known far beyond the Marche region thanks to its strong connection with Valentino Rossi. Here, the name of the nine-time world champion is part of the local identity, even though it is only one of the elements that make this place unique.

Walking through the historic center, we find several references to the world of motorsports, from murals depicting Valentino Rossi to places linked to the sporting history of the champion.

At the same time, Tavullia retains the authentic character of a hilltop village, surrounded by landscapes stretching across the Foglia and Tavollo valleys.

What makes this stop special is precisely the meeting of two seemingly distant worlds: the passion for motorcycling, which attracts visitors from all over the world, and the quiet rhythm of the Marche countryside, shaped by winding roads, nature trails, and rolling hills.

How to get from Fano to Tavullia?

Tavullia is located inland between Pesaro and Cattolica, about 30 km from Fano. By car, the journey takes just over half an hour.

If we travel by train, we can reach Pesaro or Cattolica stations and continue with local buses.

What to see and do:

- Historic center of Tavullia;

- Places dedicated to Valentino Rossi;

- Panoramic viewpoints over the hills;

- Nature trails through the Foglia and Tavollo valleys.

Vallefoglia is a municipality created from the merger of several historic centers. Today it appears as a wide and fragmented area where small settlements coexist with large green spaces and agricultural landscapes.

Here, our itinerary crosses two distinct areas—Sant’Angelo in Lizzola and Colbordolo—each with its own historic core and traces of a past that is still visible in the landscape and in the way the area is organized.

Sant’Angelo in Lizzola retains a compact and scenic character, with its hilltop historic village overlooking the surrounding landscape, while Colbordolo preserves a rural identity, linked to hill routes into the nature.

This is a landscape best discovered by moving along its internal roads, passing castles, small settlements, and wide views over the Marche hills.

How to get from Tavullia to Vallefoglia?

Vallefoglia is a short distance from Tavullia, around 12 km, taking about 20 minutes by car. There are no direct train connections, but local buses link the surrounding towns.

What to see and do:

- Sant’Angelo in Lizzola, a scenic historic hill village;

- Colbordolo: nature routes and hill landscapes.

Let’s reach the final stage of our Marche outdoor beauty route, in the heart of the inland province of Pesaro and Urbino.

Monte Grimano Terme sits on a hilltop overlooking the rolling hills of the Valconca valley all the way to the border with Romagna, just a short distance from San Marino. It’s the perfect place to close our journey, offering a sense of timeless calm and the chance to slow down through relaxing walks in the village or in the surrounding natural landscape.

Known for its thermal waters, appreciated since ancient times for their beneficial properties and rediscovered in the 19th century, Monte Grimano developed a long-standing tradition linked to wellness, which still represents one of the most authentic aspects of its identity today.

Although the thermal baths are no longer operational, their legacy remains clearly present in the village and in the way it is experienced today—at a slow pace shaped by walks, pauses, and small everyday moments.

How to get from Vallefoglia to Monte Grimano Terme?

Monte Grimano Terme is about 45 km from Vallefoglia. It is the longest leg of the entire itinerary, and traveling by car is the best option, both for convenience (there are no direct train connections) and for the pleasure of driving through a landscape rich in greenery and scenic views.

What to see and do:

- Historic center of Monte Grimano Terme;

- Panoramic viewpoints over the hills;

- Walks through the village and surrounding countryside.