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Monte San Martino
Monte San Martino (elev. 600 m, pop. 818) commands a panoramic position high above the Tenna valley. Tradition has it that the town was founded in the 9th century by the Franks. Hanging in the church of San Martino are a polyptych by Carlo and Vittore Crivelli; and a triptych by Vittore Crivelli; a further two 15th-century polyptyches can be admired in the church of Santa Maria del Pozzo. A few hundred yards from the town stands the church of Santa Maria dell Grazie, containing frescoes from 1590.
Sarnano
The modern part of Sarnano lies on the plain, the antique centre on the steep hillside. The town (elev. 539 m, ) is a very popular winter ski resort and a starting point for climbs up the Sibillini mountains. The medieval burgh with its steep narrow streets culminates in a piazza. Dating from the 1200s is the church of Santa Maria Assunta, having a Gothic portal and a campanile (end 14th cent.). Inside can be seen 14th-16th century frescoes, in the presbytery hangs a panel representing the Madonna of Mercy by Pietro Alemanno, signed and dated 1494, and a processional standard by Girolamo di Giovanni; on the back wall hangs a polyptych by Alunno. The crypt contains remnants of frescoes (1494) by Alemanno. Installed in the neighbouring former Franciscan convent founded in the 13th century is the Pinacoteca Civica (open summer 5pm-8pm; winter 4pm-7pm) which has a worthy collection of art works, including an altar piece by Vittore Crivelli; a Madonna and Child attributed to Alunno, and various paintings by Vincenzo Pagani (16th cent.).
Amandola
On the edge of the Monti Sibillini National Park, the big town in these parts is Amandola (pop. 4100), formed in the Middle Ages when residents of the surrounding castles decided to band together. In town, the church of San Francesco, a 13th-century Byzantine style fresco of Christ the King; the convent has an intriguing Museo della Civilita [open July and. Aug 9.30-12.30, 4-7.30, closed Mon, ), an accumulation of everything the locals used until a few decades ago. The first week of September sees an International Theatre festival in the streets of Amandola.
The Monti Sibillini
Above Amandola rises the dramatic, range of the Monti Sibillini, the most striking mountains in the Apennines, covered with snow from late October to late May, the habitat of a wide range of animals (including wolves) and scores of rare wildflowers and orchids, all now protected in a National Park. No one is certain how the 'Mountains of the Sibyls' got their name; ancient writers record no such priestesses in these parts of Italy, though, it is full of stories about them, and supposedly these mountains gave birth to the legend of Wagner's Tannhauser. Above Amandola are two small summer resorts, both well served by buses. Montefiorentino and Montemonaco (988m).). Montefiorentino has a small Pinacoteca (open Sat and Sun 10-12, } with a polyptych by Pietro Alemanno and a painting of Circe the sorceress from the 1700s; from here, a road goes up the valley of the Ambro to the Santuario della Madonna dell Ambro, frescoed in 1610 with picture of the twelve sibyls, by Martino Bonfini.Medieval Montemonaco.
A pretty walled town further up, is even closer to the mountain. You can walk in a couple of hours to the 'cave of the Sibyl' (the lair of Tannhauser's Venus), or more striking, follow the Tenna up the narrow Gola dell'Infernaccio, 'Shabby Little Hell Gorge', a three-hour walk from the road (summer only). If you have a car and are just pottering about, there's a panoramic drive from Montemonaco along the crest of 2175m Monte Sibilla.
A 9 km drive east of Montemonaco to Force
Will get you within trekking distance of Sibillini's highest peak, Monte Vettore (2476m), covered with snow until June, and its uncanny Lago di Pilato (1949m),), centring much of the mountains strangeness. Its a four-hour hike from the road, really only for July, August and early September, you'd better bring a map or join in with some Italians who know the way. The lake is connected with Pontius Pilate, who either threw himself into its waters to drown in remorse, or who was condemned to death by Tiberius and asked for his body to placed in a cart, to be driven by oxen , and they threw his body in this lake.
A 40 min drive to the coast
Will also take you into an experience which is still like taking a trip back to a simpler time, if you wanted a retro-break, with safe. clean beaches for children and fish dinners and , quiet at night for the parents this is a must try. The Marche's resorts are made of small, family hotels and restaurants, you may find this the relaxing holiday you have been searching for. With some stunning scenery along the way with the villages of the Conero national park enclosing the coves, high cliffs and, vineyards just South of Ancona.
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