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Il Nascondiglio - The Hideaway, Amandola
Nearest town: Ancona Airport |
If the dates you require for your holiday are already booked, please enquire anyway, as we may have dates available in our other apartments. Nothing can be more beautiful, whatever the season, from the crisp snow in the winter to the Sibillini National Park with its carpet of Spring flowers. The wide sandy beaches of Grottammare and San Benedetto are so inviting in the Summer and the Gola dell’Infernaccio makes a stunning Autumn ramble. Ancient hilltop villages are perched upon craggy cliffs waiting to be explored, deep gorges with icy waterfalls, wild flowers of every possible colour and wildlife all around. Our nearby town of Amandola has a beautifully porticoed main square where you can sit outside one of the cafes and enjoy a coffee before wandering up through the old towns cobbled streets to view the stunning Monte Sibillini. Opened in 1994, The Monti Sibillini National Park covers nearly 2 million acres with some of the highest mountains in the Appennines, (Monte Vettore being the highest at 2,476m). The park offers walks of all levels to some of the most delightful yet least discovered areas in the whole of Italy. From the huge expanse of the Piano Grande, a vast natural plain surrounded by mountains to the Gola di Infernatio with its stunning waterfalls and sheer rock faces, to the high mountain lake Lago di Pilato, where according to legend Pilates body was dumped. Legend tells us how Pontius Pilate, whilst awaiting execution, asked that fate decided his final resting place. His corpse was sent unescorted from the gates of Rome on a wagon. The oxen made their way to the Sibilline Mountains, straight up to the lake, where they dived in and disappeared. Small rare shrimps turn the lake pink in the summer months - some say it represents the blood of Pilate! So, if you are looking for a tranquil place full of legends and history, where by day you are surrounded by beautiful scenery and eagles circle overhead and by night the fire flies dance in the darkness of a warm summer evening, well look no further - Welcome to Le Marche. Flights...... Flights to Ancona or Pescara (our nearest airports) from the U.K are daily and we can arrange to pick you up from the airport (for an extra charge), or have your rental car waiting for you when you land. Routes Include..... London Stanstead to Ancona (1 hr 30 mins to The Hideaway) London Stanstead to Pescara (1 hr 20 mins) London Stanstead to Bologna - Forli (2 hrs 45 mins) London Stanstead to Rome - Ciampino (3 hrs) Nottingham East Midlands to Rome - Ciampino (3 hrs) Nottingham East Midlands to Rimini (2 hrs 25 mins) Liverpool to Rome - Ciampino (3 hrs) Rail and Ferry Links..... From Northern Europe there excellent rail links, including the fast overnight trains and car trains. Our nearest port at Ancona has routes to Croatia and Greece. (Did you know Ancona was founded in around 390 BC. Its name is a modified translation of the Greek word for "elbow". Originally, the harbor to the east of the town was protected only by the promontory on the north, shaped like an elbow)! * We recommend hiring a car to see the most of this stunning, unspoilt area. * With plenty to offer the visitor, whatever the season, the stunning scenary of the Sibillini National Park will delight, with different aspects to explore round every corner. SPRING The magical carpets of spring flowers on the mountains of the Sibillini National Park are simply stunning. With wild orchids, narsissi, cyclamen and violets, they are a photographers delight. The mild temperatures make exploring, cycling & hiking in the mountains easier than in the heat of the summer. Although not practiced by Italians until July & August, it is usually warm enough to swim in the Adriatic, without the obligatory Summer crowds & the relentless rows of sun loungers! There are many markets to visit and festivals all around - you will even find a Frog Racing Festival nearby & plenty of Easter Celebrations to attend. Any rain tends to come in a brief shower and there is still snow on the mountain tops. The Spring blossom of almond, cherry and apple and fresh greens of the new tree growth are just beautiful. SUMMER The Summer months are warm and sunny, with very few rainy days. Usually the rain comes in a brief storm at the end of a hot day and it is fantastic to watch the lightening over the mountains and the unusual cloud formations. We find it a little cooler here than on the coast and certainly less humid, with a slight breeze from the Sibillini Mountains. Usual Summer temperatures in July and August range from 32oC - 42oC and the evenings are cooler and fresher. The Summer is festival time in Le Marche and events occur nearly every day. The Templer Festival in Castignano is stunning with plays, fire-eaters, musicians and market stalls around every corner. With the town converted to a scene from Medieval times, you graze on Medieval food and drink the delicious wine at many of the street stalls. Find out how paper was made, see pots being thrown and play the fun games of the times. The Sarnano Festival will amaze you as stiltwalkers dance on the old cobble streets amonst fireworks, music and light. It is just magical! Not to be missed is the Quintana in Ascoli Piceno on the first Sunday in August. With a colourful mix of costumes, flag-throwers, drummers, horses, falcons and musicians, the procession which preceeds the jousting tournament is amazing. Starting in the main piazza and carring on through the streets of Ascoli, this festival which dates from the 9th Century is certainly worth a visit! AUTUMN The temperatures in the Autumn are ideal for hiking, walking or cycling in the Sibillini Mountains. The ever-changing Autumn colours are simply stunning & offer photographic opportunities all around. Or why not try a mule trekking trip. Visit the Amandola Theatre Festival in September amongst many others. Autumn festivals include: Apiro & Fermo - Sagra della polenta, Montecassiano - Sagra del Pesce (fish), Cupramontana & Arcevia Sagra - delluva (grapes) in the Verdicchio wine country, Piandimileto (near Urbino) - Mushroom fair, Lapedona (near Fermo) - Sagra del Vino Cotto (dont miss this one!) Then there is the grape harvest in September and a visit to our local winery is a must. With an interesting museum of old wine making equipment and huge vats, you will be shown how the wine used to be produced many years ago and the modern way of production . After which there is the complimentary wine tasting - try the Vin Cotto - its delicious! November is the olive harvest and a visit to the local press in an interesting experience. With truffles a local speciality, there are festivals aplenty - try the fair at SantAngelo during the last three weekends in October or at Acqualagna during the last three weekends in October & the first three weekends in November. WINTER The crisp snowfall of Winter is perfect for skiing or snowboarding at our nearby resort of Sassotetto. With beginners slopes, slopes for children and intermediates, there is plenty of choice and over 17km of runs. For the non-skiing guests, the walking at Sassotetto is stunning, with 360 degree views of the mountains and a visit to the vast plains of Castelluccio is amazing. There are still plenty of festivals to visit in the winter months and the Nativity or Presipeo (which originates from Italy) features in every village and town. The live nativity in Comunanza is beautiful, when the old town is whisked back to the days of Christ, with candlelight, music, animals and scenes of rural life. The final view, as you wind your way through the town, is the nativity, complete with donkey, ox, sheep, Mary, Joseph, wise men, shepherds, angels and of course the Baby Jesus. Winter flavours of Le Marche include tagliatelle with wild boar, rabbit stew, truffles and you must try Vin Brulee - the delicious Italian version of mulled wine! On a sunny winters day there is nothing more revitalising than a bracing walk on the Adriatic, when the beaches are desserted and the waves crash in. Try Pedaso, Grottamare and Villa Rosa, some of our favourite resorts along the coast. * The Hideaway sits in a peaceful valley and whilst is tranquil and relaxing, as it is in a farming region, you may experience some distant noises of dogs barking or tractors ploughing! * Whilst we state that the farmhouse is non-smoking, smoking is permitted in all the outside areas (excluding the pool!) * The apartment has a ramp and a small step up to the front door, but after this, once inside, is all on one level and there are no further steps. Click book to check availability and/or book Please mention OurInns.org when enquiring or booking |
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