Marche villa holiday Italy, villa rental Marche Italy, Marche holiday villa, Marche vacation home Italy, pool, views, mountains, gastronomy, culture

It's great to relax at Il Melo, soak up some sun, have a dip, catch up on all those books you've been promising yourself to read (or one from our library) but you may want something a little more active to do. In which case, our friends at Inside Rural Italy have got a whole range of options for you to consider:

Cooking demonstration & dinner
Four courses - large selection of antipasti, primo piatto (a pasta dish), secondo piatto (a meat dish) contorni (vegetables) & dolce (pudding). 40 euro per head excluding wine.

This can be simply a dinner – we will arrive in time for last minute preparations and serving of the meal.

Or we can make it a demonstration, arriving around 3.30pm and you can watch and ask questions when and if you see fit. The pasta making could be hands-on for the children if they were interested.

Entertainment with your dinner??
Angela Boerio will sing for you & if you’d like to join in, that’s ok too… 100 euro up to 6 hours.

Get to know the area
Nadia Buratti will come and talk about Amandola & its history and show you a video of the Sibillini Mountains 50 euro

Alberto Mandozzi, President of the Amandola Truffle Association, accompanied by his truffle dog, will talk about the white & black truffles found in the area. He’ll answer your questions and you may even be able to buy some truffles but at 2,000 euro a kilo for the white ones. 60 euro

What about a truffle hunt?
A truffle hunt followed by a truffle cooking class and the dishes are served to you for lunch with a glass or two of local wine - 100 euro per head



Vino
Trip to Cherri Vineyard at Acquaviva for a tour of the cantina & the vines followed by wine tasting .. half day

15 euro per head minimum 3 people.

Special Umbria
This is a full day’s outing and includes a tour of Madrevite vineyard in Umbria where you’ll taste their wine & olive oil (you might even like to buy some), lunch at Castiglione del Lago followed by a visit to the nearby cashmere outlet, 160 euro per head (includes bus hire).

A Bit of History…
A guided tour of Monte San Martino including a visit to the Crivelli paintingsOR
A guided tour of Smerillo and this lovely hilltop town's 14th Century frescos; OR
A visit to the Pinacotecca (Art Gallery) Durata at Montefortino - another stunning example of a medieval fortified town.

15 euro per head for each tour.

Take a walk on the wild side
Guided walks in the Sibillini Mountains (easy or more difficult) OR
Guided mountain bike rides in the Sibillini Mountains

190 euro per day 5 to 15 people.

In the snow (January to March)
Put on your ciaspole (snow shoes) and join the local CAI(Club alpino italiano) members for a walk in the Sibillinis ….snow permitting, of course!

40 euro (including hire of snow shoes & insurance)

The country life
How to make honey – a talk by Sergio followed by some tasting. (June to September)chestnuts then settle down to lunch under those wonderful trees. …15 euro per head. (October)mela rosa – learn about the local apple on a family farm, pick some fruit & have afternoon tea under the trees…… 15 euro per head. (October)


Something creative…
Visit the artisan in Force who has been beating copper into pots, jugs & other shapes for at least 50 years.
Your guide will then show you the traditional method of keeping livestock in Le Marche.
Follow this with a great lunch at Agriturismo Santa Lucia dei Sibillini.

35 euro per head (includes 4 courses plus wine) 28 euro per head (includes 2 courses plus wine)

Even more creative…
Papermaking at Nightcloud Studio enjoy a hands-on papermaking workshop with Natan & Katerina

100 euro for groups of up to 8 people.

Something more adventurous
Horse riding – for those over 18 and with sufficient experience (Alberto will be the judge!) take a ride through the hills around Amandola. For 18 and below or those for whom horse riding is new – ride around the large rink at the stables at San Lorenzo.
20 euro per hour plus a one-off payment of 35 euro for insurance.

Giornata con i contadini (A day with the farmers):

Make bread in the old way & visit the mill where the grain is stoneground for the flour to make the bread & pasta. Enjoy a great lunch at Il Forno a Collina..
20 euro per person including lunch (3 courses plus bread & house wine) 25 euro per person including lunch (4 courses plus bread & house wine).


Horse riding with Alberto:

Under 18 – only at the stables. Young ones will be lead.
Over 18 – may go out but only if experienced. Alberto to make that decision.

Click here to enquire about booking il Melo and for prices and availability