Marche

Marche, sometimes called The Marches in English, is one of the twenty regions of Italy. It is in the central part of the country and is home to nearly 1.5 million people. The capital and largest city of Marche is Ancona.

The region is surrounded by other Italian regions and countries. To the north, it borders Emilia-Romagna and the small republic of San Marino. To the west are Tuscany and Umbria, while Lazio lies to the southwest. To the south is Abruzzo, and the Adriatic Sea forms its eastern edge. The landscape of Marche is mostly hilly, with some narrow coastal areas and river valleys. A railway built in the 19th century connects Bologna to Brindisi along the coast.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, many cities in Marche became important for culture, art, and trade. Notable cities include Ancona, Pesaro, Urbino, Camerino, and Ascoli Piceno. Urbino was especially significant as a center of Renaissance history and was the birthplace of Raphael, a famous painter and architect. Marche is also where many other important historical figures were born, such as Gentile da Fabriano, Cyriacus of Ancona, Donato Bramante, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Giacomo Leopardi, Gioachino Rossini, and Maria Montessori.

Etymology

The name "Marche" comes from an old word, "marca," meaning a border area. Long ago, these places were part of the Holy Roman Empire. Examples include the March of Ancona.

History

See also: List of museums in Marche, Anconine Republic, and Duchy of Urbino

Marche, known in ancient times as the Picenum territory, began to form a cultural unity during the Iron Age when the Picentes lived there. Many artifacts from this time can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of the Marche Region in Ancona. Later, the area was occupied by the Senones, a group of Gauls. The important Battle of Sentinum took place here in 295 BC, after which the Romans established many colonies linked to Rome by roads like the Via Flaminia and the Via Salaria.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the region was ruled by different groups, including the Goths and later became part of the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna. Over time, local lords and city governments shaped the area. During the Renaissance, powerful families competed for control. Eventually, Marche became part of the Papal States.

In more recent times, Marche faced events like World War I and II, and also natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding.

Geography

Marche is a region in central Italy that covers an area of 9,366 square kilometres (3,616 mi²). It is along the Adriatic coast, next to Emilia-Romagna to the north, Tuscany and Umbria to the west, and Lazio and Abruzzo to the south.

The land in Marche is mostly hilly or mountainous, with the Apennine mountains along the eastern edge. The weather is mild, with colder winters in the mountains and milder weather near the coast. The coastline stretches for 173 kilometres (107 mi) and is mostly flat, except for some hilly areas near Ancona.

Demographics

As of 2025, about 1.5 million people live in the region. Half are male and half are female. Young people are 14% of the population, and older people are 27%.

There are 159 people for every square kilometer, which is a little less than the rest of Italy. The busiest place is near the city of Ancona, with 235 people per square kilometer. The least busy area is near Macerata, with 109 people per square kilometer.

Migration

From 1952 to 1967, the number of people in the region went down by 2% because many moved away. But even though fewer babies were born, the population started growing again in 1968.

As of 2024, about 187,000 people there were born in other countries, making up 13% of the population. The biggest groups come from Albanians, Romanians, Moroccans, Ukrainians, and Pakistanis.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Marche

Marche is part of an area of Italy called the "Red Quadrilateral", along with Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Umbria. This area has strong left-wing views. In 2014, people in Marche voted for Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party.

As of the 2025 Marche regional election Marche is governed by the centre-right coalition.

Administrative divisions

The region is divided into five provinces: Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Pesaro e Urbino.

Economy

Before the 1980s, Marche had less money but was stable in farming and crafts.

Today, farming is less important. The main farm products are grains, vegetables, animal foods, and grapes. Fishing is also common, with main places like Ancona, San Benedetto del Tronto, Fano, and Civitanova Marche.

Since the 1980s, the economy has changed a lot. Many small craft workshops became bigger businesses, and some are now famous around the world like Indesit and Tod's. The region has special areas for making shoes and leather goods, furniture, and home appliances. The city of Castelfidardo is known for making musical instruments, especially the accordion.

Marche is famous for its shoemaking tradition.

Tourism

Many people visit Marche because of its history, monuments, and beautiful small villages. Thirty-one of these villages are chosen as some of the most beautiful in Italy.

Transport

The region has Marche Airport with flights to other parts of Italy and Europe. People also use airports like Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, Florence Airport, Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport, and Rimini Fellini Airport.