Hill towns of the southern Marche

You begin at Offagna, where the rocca crowns the hill: climb up to explore it and its museum, then wander the lanes below. In July the streets turn lively for the Feste Medievali. Pour a glass of the village's Rosso Conero before heading on to Montelupone.

Montelupone is a walled town with four gates, so enter slowly and head for the square with its old civic tower and the theatre. In early May it hosts an artichoke festival. If you have energy left, visit the abbey of San Firmano down on the plain, then on to Montecosaro.

Montecosaro is your first night. Walk the old walls and watchtowers over the Chienti valley, then climb to the Cassero, now a park, and before dark visit the Romanesque abbey church down in the lower town. Settle in and stay the night here.

Start the day at Moresco and its tower with seven sides. Take the modern stair to the top for the view over the Fermo hills. Afterwards, stroll the oval of lanes down to the triangular piazza and the little theatre in the old church of Santa Sofia, then on to Petritoli.

Pass under the Tre Archi into Petritoli and climb towards the civic tower, which changes shape as it rises. Look for the Teatro dell'Iride and the baroque church of Sant'Andrea with its nuns' grilles, and if you are here in July, for the Festa delle Cove. Then on to Montefiore dell'Aso.

Montefiore dell'Aso is tonight's stop. Visit the former convent of San Francesco for the remains of the Crivelli polyptych, then take in the clock museum and the walls. In the evening, wander the ridge across its five hills. Stay the night here.

The last day opens at Ripatransone, whose ridge faces the Adriatic. Walk the main corso between tall palaces, find the very narrow alley in the Roflano quarter, and stop by the cathedral. Try a glass of Rosso Piceno Superiore, then on to Grottammare.

Grottammare has two sides, and you can enjoy both. Climb through the Paese Alto, with its old walls and the Romanesque church of San Martino, then go down to the Riviera delle Palme for a walk by the water. For lunch, try the local brodetto alla sambenedettese before going on to Monteprandone.

Finish the journey at Monteprandone, birthplace of Saint James of the Marches. See the medieval manuscripts from his library in the codex museum and the frescoed cloister of his sanctuary. From the ridge, look for the Sibillini peaks and the Gran Sasso, then head for Pescara.