Fantastic farmhouse serving slow food dinners with ingredients mainly sourced from their own farm, swimming pool and great garden views near to the stunning town of Treia in central Le Marche. Best thing is the prices of £25 per night of £40 including the excellent evening meals

www.fontechiara.com
C.da Paterno 19, 62010 Treia
+39 733 216797
Google map: bit.ly/wWW2za

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Amazing resort with 23 lifts and 50 runs that is only an hour from Rome in Abruzzo National Park. The resort is at 1750m and the lifts to 2100m which guarantee snow. Cheap passes and hire charges and midweek its virtually empty - we didn't queue at all. All pistes have snow cannons and are really well kept. Look out for five-day deals for about €300 for half board boots, skis and passes!

www.roccaraso.net/neve/
Google map: bit.ly/zoHKEo

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Top venue in Stockholm with all the best bands making a stop there, probably holds 400-500 and the crowd are right on top of the stage, prices pretty reasonable given its Sweden. We paid about £14 to see the Horrors who were superb. Drinks about £5.50 a beer, you can book in advance on line

www.debaser.se
Karl Johans Torg 1, 111 30 Stockholm
+46 (0)8 30 56 20
Google map: bit.ly/yIBEnr

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Big hotel, that somehow retains the charm of a small boutique version, courteous staff, funky decor and decent rates. Breakfast was scrummy and it was a pleasant 10 minutes stroll to the centre

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stocy-courtyard-stockholm-kungsholmen/
Rålambshovsleden 50 · Stockholm, 112 19 Sweden
Google map: bit.ly/y91AOd

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Fantastic restaurant in a restored hamlet that serves a superb 12 course tasting menu which takes you through the historic flavours of Le Marche region, Silvano the chef delivers each course with an explanation of the dishes origins, history, ingredients and methods. A fantastic 3.5 hr sitting including wine and coffee cost €30.

www.picciolodirame.com/index.html
Castello Vestignano, Fraz. Vestignano, Caldarola
+39 3483316588
Google map: bit.ly/qtYyMd

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This wonderful luxury B&B is located in one the most beautiful villages in Italy, which boasts a Terme health resort, skiing and hiking in The Sibillini Mountains and a local area that is littered with stunning medieval villages. We were among the first guests at this hotel which is based in a 16C palazzo and finished to the highest level. Our bedroom was big, very stylish and comfortable and the ensuite was something out of grand designs. Rhona the owner was very helpful with tips and advice.

www.ospiti.co/
Via Bruno Buozzi 47A, 62028 Sarnano, MC, Italy
+39 0733 658351
Google map: bit.ly/rlfiX3

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We have just returned to Le Marche and this wonderfully preserved old farmhouse. The owners have restored it to its former glory and its sits on a hill overlooking dramatic countryside and medieval villages. The apartment was stylishly furnished with lots of interesting old features. The wifi, DVDs and many books and maps were a plus.
If you go you must visit the incredible Hells gorge and the crumbly little hermit who has lived there for over 30 years single handedly building the church of San Leonardo

www.villasanraffaello.com
Via Case Rosse
278 Sarnano 62028 MC, Italia
0044 0208 653 5206
Google map: tinyurl.com/36grm2c

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Sarnano in Le Marche is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. It has natural springs - you can take the waters at the Terme or visit for a spot of pampering, we indulged in their fantastic lunchtime menu- full of local produce.
In the wonderfully restored town there is an art and antique market during the last week of May and the first of june, where many of the medieval properties are opened up as shops. The town is also home to some great restaurants, delis and food shops- the local wine we found fantastic- especially in five litre flagons from a local cantine Il Pollenza www.ilpollenza.it/. There's so much to see in this particular part of Le Marche, particularly in Spring while the poppies and other wild flowers are out and the snows in the Sibillini National Park have melted.

www.le-marche.com/Marche/html/sarnano.htm

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Last week we walked to Lago Pilato under Monte Vettore in Le Marche, an ancient glacial lake, where legend has it that Pontius Pilate drowned himself. Nowadays it is home to a unique freshwater shrimp.

The circular walk is 20km and quite a challenge in places, but the spectacular scenery makes it all worth while. We have walked various sections of the gran' Anello (a 120km ring) in the Sibillini Mountains of Marche. There is a great map for the area, the 1:25,000 scale Club Alpino Italiano map of Parco Nazionale Dei Monti Sibillini. You can buy it in any local tabacchi around the national park or buy it in advance via www.sibillini-walks.com/index.html.

There is also a guidebook that explains the nine-day route, but if not, try this link where you can buy it direct from the National Park emporio.parks.it/product_info.php

There are some great rifugi (refuges) that you can stay at: www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.monti.sibillini/Esog.php or eat at. Many of them are newly restored.

On our hiking holiday we ate at 3 rifugi at Monte Amandola, at Ragno near Pintura and Il Tribbio at Lake Fiastra and have to say that the food at all was superb.

If you contact the national park they will also arrange a guide if you need it. Alternatively, Spring CAI and the National Park organise excursions and treks. The CAI walks can be found on the board on the right in sarnano as you enter the centro storico. The national park guided walks are listed on this page and need to be prebooked via the email address. www.sibillini.net/chiedi_sibilla/indexVisiteGuidate.html

If you need more information, free walking itineraries or a lovely place to stay on the edge of the park try www.villasanraffaello.com/free-time/marche-hiking-walking.html

www.villasanraffaello.com/index.php
Sarnano, Macerata, Le Marche, Italy

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