Travelling around the Marche

Of Ancona we didn't see much because of the pre-dawn hour, whereas Pesaro and Fano gave their best. In piazza Matteotti we begin to take a look around. It's definitely hotter but the sky still isn't decent and the rain, albeit light, keeps appearing on and off. Having arrived at 11.40 is a handicap because almost everything closes at 12.30 to reopen at 16.00 or 16.30! Anyway, we stroll through the centre, and among the preparations for the Festa dell'Unità we see Rossini's house without going into the various rooms, then we make our way towards the courtyard of the ducal palace, now used as the government building. The tourist information centre provides us with a map. The road to the sea is lined with Art Nouveau villas and, facing the sand, with hotels and restaurants.

The beaches, because of the bad weather, are deserted, there is practically no one there! Following the advice of the manager of a beach club, we opt for the open-air restaurant kiosk PERBACCO, where for 23 euros we get a bottle of sparkling water, coffee and two dishes of ravioli and little gnocchi with prawns and courgettes, accompanied by cream - all very tasty. We enjoy the sun and the weather, which is getting better and better: the coast fills up with bathers... too bad the holiday is almost over!