Le Marche’s pastoral landscape is bookended by two of its most dramatic features: the rugged Sibylline mountain chain bordering the region to the west and the vast eastern coastline, stretching almost 200 kilometers and lapped by the Adriatic Sea. Most visitors to the region concentrate on one or the other, either exploring the Sibylline Mountain National Park on foot, bike, or horseback; or whiling away the days at the water’s edge, lined with beach clubs that range from the fashionable to the family-friendly.

There is, however, a middle ground between these two extremes. Vast stretches of rolling hills extend from the inland mountains to the coast, covered by orderly fields, pastures, and vineyards and dotted with quiet villages that beckon with simple small-town charm. Whether you’re looking for the perfect piazza for an aperitivo and dinner al fresco after the rigours of a mountain hike, or need a break from the coastal chaos, these secret spots are a delight.