Marche

I

Introduction

Marche (English, The Marches), administrative region in central Italy, bordered on the north by the Republic of San Marino, and the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, on the east by the Adriatic Sea, on the south by Abruzzi and Latium, and on the west by Umbria and Tuscany. Marche has a total land area of 9,694 sq km (3,743 sq mi), and comprises the provinces of Pesaro and Urbino, Ancona, Macerata, Ascoli Piceno, and Fermo.

II

Physical Geography

The region slopes east from the mountainous and hilly section of the Apennines to the narrow coastal plain along the Adriatic Sea. The region’s coastline stretches for some 180 km (112 mi), with many long, sandy beaches. In the south-west of the region, Mount Sibillini National Park, established in 1993, comprises around 700 sq km (270 sq mi) of mountainous terrain, including ten peaks that exceed 2,000 m (6,562 ft). The highest of the park’s summits—Mount Vettore (2,476 m/8,123 ft)—is also the highest point in Marche. The National Park of Gran Sasso-Monti Della Laga, one of Italy’s largest national parks, spans the borders of southern Marche, north-western Abruzzi, and north-eastern Latium. The park has a total surface area of around 1,600 sq km (618 sq mi) and was established in 1993.

III

Population

Around 1,536,098 people live in Marche (2007 estimate). The region has an average population density of 157 people per sq km (406 per sq mi); The capital is Ancona (population, 2007 estimate, 101,480); other major centres of population include Pesaro (2007 estimate, 92,206); Fano (2007 estimate, 61,744); Ascoli Piceno (2007 estimate,51,503); Macerata (2007 estimate, 42,568); Iesi (2007 estimate, 39,966); and Loreto (2007 estimate, 11,957).

Marche is rich in cultural associations. The town of Urbino was an important cultural centre during the Renaissance; it was particularly well known for the manufacture of maiolica ware. The historic centre of Urbino was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. The painter Raphael was born there in 1483. The town of Macerata was the birthplace of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. The Polytechnic University of La Marche (1969), in Ancona; the University of Urbino (1506); and the University of Macerata (1290) are the region’s leading institutions of higher education.

IV

Economy

Marche is primarily an agricultural region, where wheat, maize, and fruit, including grapes for wine, are cultivated. Among the important manufactured goods are paper, silk textiles, sailcloth, chemicals, machinery, and musical instruments. Shipbuilding and petroleum and sugar refining make significant contributions to the regional economy. The resort towns along the coast and the city of Urbino in the hills are tourist attractions. Inland, there are also several towns that have become famous as health spas, including Acquasanta Terme, Sarnano, Aspio Terme, and Carignano Terme. Fishing is the leading industry of the coastal area.