Nearby Fermo has preserved its Renaissance layout and is one of the richest centres in the Marches when it comes to history and art. The Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno is a breathtaking Renaissance square with the domed Basilica di San Francesco at one end, and the art-deco Caffè Meletti at the other, lined with arched walkways and cobbled paving stones in between. The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Loreto is a jewel of Italian religious architecture. Tiny hilltop medieval towns are in abundance, each with its own city wall and rustic stone brick houses with colourful window shutters and terracotta roofs set against the backdrop of rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves.

Spring and autumn offer cooler temperatures in the 20s for sightseeing, walking and cycling. With over 200 medieval hilltop villages boasting narrow cobbled streets, churches and large piazzas and panoramic views there is plenty to explore on foot. Spring is a beautiful season for walking among beautiful flowers and blooming trees with the snow-capped Sibillini mountains as a backdrop. During the autumn harvest, wine and food festivals abound, celebrating truffles, chestnuts and other delicacies the region has to offer. As the region is also of great architectural interest many of the towns such as Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, Urbino or Ancona are year-round attractions.  In summer the Macerata opera festival is one of the highlights of the cultural calendar. It takes place in Macerata's Sferisterio and offers classic and contemporary performances. Of course there are many other local festivals taking place in the summer, often culminating in large firework displays.