We review the gastronomic and cultural riches of this area of Italy where products such as pecorino and maccheroncini di Campofilone stand out.
Le Marche is a region located in central Italy and characterised by its rich and varied nature. It is bathed by the Adriatic Sea and has flat and sandy coasts but also cliffs, protected natural areas, towns with palaces and religious buildings with significant artistic elements. However, what most characterises this Italian area is its strong commitment to sustainability: it has 26.6% of organic land in relation to the total agricultural area. This is higher than the Italian average of 18.7% and also exceeds the 25% target set by the EU for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The Marche region recognised the ‘Marche Biological District – The biodiversity that unites us’ as a food district. It aims to become the largest biological district in Europe. It has an area of about 110,000 hectares dedicated to organic farming, of which more than 4,200 are devoted to cereals, 6,800 to wine, more than 5,000 to fruit and vegetables and more than 3,000 to oil.
Agricultural area in the Le Marche region. Editorial credit: Pexels.
Some of Le Marche’s gastronomic treasures include the iconic ciauscolo, a traditional sausage with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), maccheroncini di Campofilone, an egg pasta with over 600 years of history, ‘Ascolano’ olives with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and vincisgrassi, a lasagne typical of the region. All of these can be accompanied by coniglio in porchetta (baked rabbit) or by the famous local cheeses, such as caciotta di Urbino or pecorino di fossa, a sheep’s cheese matured in caves.
As well as being a region characterised by organic farming, it is also notable for towns such as Ascoli Piceno, with its charming medieval squares and streets, or the Monti Sibillini National Park, where visitors can explore spectacular hiking trails.
The vast green plains are a characteristic landscape of the area. Editorial credit: Pexels.
In short, Le Marche reflects the region’s commitment to sustainability, local trade and respect for its natural resources. This leadership makes Le Marche an ideal destination for lovers of conscious and quality gastronomy, where tradition and respect for the environment are perfectly combined.
