Marche (Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata, Pesaro, Urbino)

Region: Marche

Provinces: Ancona (AN), Ascoli Piceno (AP), Macerata (MC), Pesaro e Urbino (PS)

Area: 9,693 sq.km/3,741 sq.mi

Population: 1,424,000

Situation

The region of Marche (the Marches) in Central Italy covers mountainous country, consisting partly of inhospitable terrain (Monte Vettore, 2,476m/8,171ft) but mostly of very fertile uplands, which extends between the rivers Foglia and Tronto down the eastern slopes of the Appennino Umbro-Marchigiano to the Adriatic coast. The capital of the region is Ancona, at one time one of Italy's most influential towns. General information

The people earn their living from agriculture and horticulture (wheat, barley, maize, fruit, vegetables, vine) and from stock raising (cattle and pigs). Along the coast fishing and shipbuilding are of some importance. The production of majolica is a traditional industry, particularly at Pesara and Urbino and new industries are being developed including both light and heavy engineering. Tourism makes a major contribution to the economy in the seaside resorts along the Atlantic coast. While in the past a small number of towns in the region, particularly Urbino and Ancona, gained prosperity and influence, the entire region of the Marches which already first in the records in the 10th century, was without any notable importance.