LE MARCHE HISTORY, CULTURE & GASTRONOMY

Departure by train from Pescara station to Pesaro (Approx 1h40m ticket not included).
The 4* Hotel Alexander Museum with great views and situated on the coast is less than 10 minutes by taxi (Approx €10 which will be shared between guests). After check in we will meet in the foyer where you will receive the welcome pack with information about your holiday. We will take a walk (approx. 15 minutes) into Pesaro historic centre and find a bar to share a drink and a nibble before meeting Francesca, our guide, who will show us the secrets of this beautiful city, rich in history, traditions & amazing architecture. Its city centre is lined with great shops where you can indulge yourself in some good shopping. After the guided tour we will have time free to explore more of Pesaro. At 8pm dinner in the renowned hotel restaurant with a choice of meat or fish menu available including wine, will conclude our first day.

Breakfast; at 9.30am we will depart for Corinaldo, a stunning medieval town that sits high on top of a hill just inland from the Adriatic Coast and Pesaro. We will stop here for about 2h and enjoy a stroll through the medieval centre with its typical narrow lanes, beautiful churches and traditional red brick-built houses, all surrounded by its perfectly preserved 14th century walls. One of the most iconic places of Corinaldo, is the “Piaggia” known as the “Cento Scale” (Hundred steps) that climb straight up to the Piazza del Terreno, on top of the hill with amazing 360° views. Amongst some of the most important architectural sites worth visiting we certainly recommend the church of the Addolorata, The Sanctuary of Saint Maria Goretti, the Church of the Suffragio and the 16th century church of Saint Francesco. After the visit, a short transfer to discover another one of Max’s Secret wineries, “Vigna degli Estensi”. We will meet its owner and founder Stefano who will accompany us for a walk through the vineyards, explaining his philosophy, the cultivars and the wines he so proudly produces. We will visit his cellars, ageing room and finally the tasting room where we will taste some of Vigna degli Estensi best wines accompanied by local products. After the tasting we will return to Pesaro and the hotel, and rest of the day free to enjoy at your leisure.

Breakfast; at 9.15am departure to visit the iconic castle of Gradara and its amazing historic centre with its characteristic narrow-cobbled lanes and the imposing original 12th century walls that protect the hamlet. We will meet with our expert guide Francesca who will accompany us on a fantastic guided tour and teach all there is to know about Gradara and the Castle where the tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca took place which is immortalised in Dante’s Divine Comedy. After the visit, about 2h, we will have time to wander around the many shops that sell different local arts and crafts, souvenirs and local artisan pottery and ceramics. There are bars where we can sit and enjoy a drink and relish the atmosphere. At 12pm short transfer to the one of the oldest wineries in the area, Cantine “Tenuta del Monsignore” owned by the Bacchini family since the 14th century. Accompanied by Nicoletta the 7th Bacchini Family Generation, we will visit the production area, the incredible ageing room, bottling plant and finally we will sit in the amazing tasting room and enjoy some of their best wines accompanied by delicious local products. After the tasting we will return to the hotel in Pesaro and rest of the day free for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Breakfast; at 9.30am the Max’s Secret Wineries Tour continues towards the Tenuta “Il Conventino di Monteciccardo”. Hidden amongst the hills just inland from Pesaro, the winery has been making incredible superior quality wines for decades, but have only been recently discovered and are being appreciated for being amongst some of the best wines in Italy. We will visit the vineyards, the cantina and ageing room and finally taste 4 of their best wines accompanied by some of the best local products. After the tasting we will return to the hotel and enjoy more time free in Pesaro and the buzzing Saturday afternoon atmosphere. At 8pm we will have dinner at the hotel restaurant with another typical dinner with a choice of meat or fish menu wine included which will conclude our tour.

Breakfast; at 9.15am departure to visit the iconic castle of Gradara and its amazing historic centre with its characteristic narrow-cobbled lanes and the imposing original 12th century walls that protect the hamlet. We will meet with our expert guide Francesca who will accompany us on a fantastic guided tour and teach all there is to know about Gradara and the Castle where the tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca took place which is immortalised in Dante’s Divine Comedy. After the visit, about 2h, we will have time to wander around the many shops that sell different local arts and crafts, souvenirs and local artisan pottery and ceramics. There are bars where we can sit and enjoy a drink and relish the atmosphere. At 12pm short transfer to the one of the oldest wineries in the area, Cantine “Tenuta del Monsignore” owned by the Bacchini family since the 14th century. Accompanied by Nicoletta the 7th Bacchini Family Generation, we will visit the production area, the incredible ageing room, bottling plant and finally we will sit in the amazing tasting room and enjoy some of their best wines accompanied by delicious local products. After the tasting we will return to the hotel in Pesaro and rest of the day free for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Breakfast; at 9.15am departure to visit the iconic castle of Gradara and its amazing historic centre with its characteristic narrow-cobbled lanes and the imposing original 12th century walls that protect the hamlet. We will meet with our expert guide Francesca who will accompany us on a fantastic guided tour and teach all there is to know about Gradara and the Castle where the tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca took place which is immortalised in Dante’s Divine Comedy. After the visit, about 2h, we will have time to wander around the many shops that sell different local arts and crafts, souvenirs and local artisan pottery and ceramics. There are bars where we can sit and enjoy a drink and relish the atmosphere. At 12pm short transfer to the one of the oldest wineries in the area, Cantine “Tenuta del Monsignore” owned by the Bacchini family since the 14th century. Accompanied by Nicoletta the 7th Bacchini Family Generation, we will visit the production area, the incredible ageing room, bottling plant and finally we will sit in the amazing tasting room and enjoy some of their best wines accompanied by delicious local products. After the tasting we will return to the hotel in Pesaro and rest of the day free for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Breakfast; at 9.15am departure to visit the iconic castle of Gradara and its amazing historic centre with its characteristic narrow-cobbled lanes and the imposing original 12th century walls that protect the hamlet. We will meet with our expert guide Francesca who will accompany us on a fantastic guided tour and teach all there is to know about Gradara and the Castle where the tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca took place which is immortalised in Dante’s Divine Comedy. After the visit, about 2h, we will have time to wander around the many shops that sell different local arts and crafts, souvenirs and local artisan pottery and ceramics. There are bars where we can sit and enjoy a drink and relish the atmosphere. At 12pm short transfer to the one of the oldest wineries in the area, Cantine “Tenuta del Monsignore” owned by the Bacchini family since the 14th century. Accompanied by Nicoletta the 7th Bacchini Family Generation, we will visit the production area, the incredible ageing room, bottling plant and finally we will sit in the amazing tasting room and enjoy some of their best wines accompanied by delicious local products. After the tasting we will return to the hotel in Pesaro and rest of the day free for you to enjoy at your leisure.