The subterranean complex of the Frasassi Caves is one of the biggest and fascinating underground routes of entire the world. The tourist route, easily accessible and well paved, has a duration of about 70 minutes, for an extension of 1.5 km.
Discovered in 1971 by a group of Ancona speleologists, Frasassi Caves were opened to the public in 1974 and today are of the major attractions of the Marche region.

The Frasassi Caves are located inside the Natural Park “Gola della Rossa” in Genga (AN) area, a charming medieval village, home to a small and legendary castle.

Tourists from all over Europe come to see this magical world of stalactites, stalagmites and lakes.
The water, slowing flowing on limestone, dissolves small amounts of this rock that, over decades and centuris has grown on incredible stalagmite and stalactite formations.

Inside the caves there are also ponds where the clear water is stagnant; another curious feature of Frasassi Caves is that the environment naturally keeps its temperature at a constant of 14 degrees Celsius.

The path to the caves is very impressive, thanks to special lighting that enhances their colors and incredible shapes.
The beauty of the natural “halls” with a wide array of crystal formations is unique and each cave has a name: Ancona Abyss, Hall of the two hundred, the Bear Room, Grand Canyon.

The Ancona Abyss is a huge natural chamber. It is 200 meters high and spans for an area of 180 by 120 meters. Its volume is so big (2 millions of cubic meters) that it may easily house the Milan’s Cathedral (Duomo).

When you enter the Frasassi caves, since the place is so unnatural to human beings, one tends to loose his perception of distances. Thus huge stalagmites, over 8 meters tall, may seem small when looked at from afar. Following the path, you will discover its real and incredible dimensions.
The Frasassi Caves are one of Europe’s most important and renowned areas for speleologists.

The city of Loreto (11,000 inhabitants) is a typical example of when a famous shrine generates an urban center and defines its characteristics and functions.
Consequently, the events of Loreto in the past centuries almost always coincided with those of his sanctuary.

From a gentle hill rises Loreto’s Basilica, a famous destination of numerous pilgrimages: Built in 1469 by the Bishop of Recanati, it is known to protect the Holy House, where the Virgin Mary was born and lived. The Holy Hose was moved here from Palestina after a Christian crusade.

Tradition has it that when the Crusaders were expelled from Palestine, a group of angels took her home, flying, first in Illyria, and then in the territory of Loreto, which is why Our Lady of Loreto is venerated as the "Patroness of Aviators." Archaeological studies confirm the origin of the house, both in style and construction materials used in the Holy Land at the time, unknown in the Marche territory; in addition, the size of the dwelling coincides perfectly with the "hole" left in Nazareth where it was before.

Today, according to newly discovered documents, the most likely hypothesis is that the stones of the Holy House were transported to Loreto by ship, on the initiative of the Angeli family; a recent document discovery dated this journey back to 1294. Architecturally, the interior of the Basilica is a Latin cross with three aisles. Beside the Holy House, the Loreto Basilica contains other masterpieces such as the bronze Baptistery by Tiburzio Vergelli and Pomarancio paintings on Church’s ceiling.
The dome was built by Giuliano da Sangallo, while the bell tower is a work of Luigi Vanvitelli.
The Holy House walls are enclosed by an artistic marble covering, one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture, designed by Donato Bramante.
Absolutely worthy of note is the miraculous Black Madonna statue, sculpted in 1922 by Leopold Celani, whose most notable feature is the dark face of the Virgin, common to most ancient icons.
The main Loreto’s festivities are September 8th, the the Nativity of Mary, and December 10th, the arrival of the Holy House in Loreto.

The town of Urbino is so rich in history, art and culture to be considered one of the cradles of the Italian Renaissance. This rich cultural heritage was formed by artists from all over Europe, thanks to Duke Federico da Montefeltro, lord of this small dukedom, who gathered famous artists like Pedro Berruguete, Giusto di Gand, Raffaello and many others.

Urbino is situated on two hills from which you can enjoy a vast panorama.
The town has ancient origins, although nothing definite is known about its first inhabitants. Only recent archaeological discoveries confirm the presence of a settlement dating from about the fourth century a. C.

You can visit Urbino in many ways. A good start point can be Albornoz fortress or Porta Valbona, from which in no time you may arrive in at the city's main square, considered the heart of the town.

Among the notable monuments are: the Palazzo Ducale, characteristic for the turrets that mark its back side; the famous painter Raffaello’s house which is located in Raffaello street at number 57 and where you can admire a fresco from his youth, in addition to the house where he lived; the Monument to Raffaello, work in bronze by the sculptor Luigi Belli built in 1897 and located on the panoramic Piazzale Roma in “Pian del Monte”.
The Duomo (Cathedral) in its neoclassical style (architect Giuseppe Valadier) contains some paintings by Federico Barocci, the Egyptian Obelisk, situated opposite the Church of San Domenico, whose origin dates back to about 580 BC.

Also noteworthy and visitable is is the "Monastery of Santa Chiara" which is yet another architectural example of the famous Sienese architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
In Urbino you may also find the college where Giovanni Pascoli studied until the age of 12.
The city also offers various museums and galleries and a botanical garden, next to the Faculty of Chemical Physical and Natural Sciences, (University of Urbino), where one may admire about 2.300 kinds of plants.