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About halfway down the coast of the Adriatic Sea, the
region of Le Marche (also called the Marches in English)
is one of the last regions linked to the rest of Italy
by train, and relatively remote today, despite the relatively
concentrated population for such a mountainous area.
All five provinces of the region have sun-drenched
coasts to the east and the Appenine foothills of the
Sibillini mountains to the west.
The capital city of Ancona is located in the centre
of these provinces and has the only good port in the
region.
Though rarely visited by tourists, Le Marche has all
the amenities of the nearby regions. Hundreds of years
of local policies and trade have turned the steep valleys
into a heavily agricultural region.
In the 20th century, industry moved to the area but
it continues to be known as a place to get incredible
meats and cheeses, as is reflected in the local cuisine
that also includes the heavy red sauces many tourists
associate with Italian cuisine.
Small villages and medieval castles dot the countryside
and beaches of all sorts are to be found up and down
the coast.
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