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THE HINTERLAND |
  
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| The hinterland has its own defences against the incursions of too many tourists and visitors who come up here from the Adriatic coast in search of art treasures, wide clear landscapes, evening amusements in courtyards and castles. The villages, both large and small, are almost all in a high position, overlooking valleys; they have old fortresses that seem to cut them off from the plain, severe architecture that is a faithful mirror of the independent and apparently austere soul of the people of the Marches. Austere but not sad, indeed they are full of strength and animation, with plenty of initiative. Every little town has an artistic and cultural heritage to preserve, take care of and show to advantage. Hemmed in between the mountains and the sea, these towns slope gently down with hills of farmland, as in the provinces of Ancona and Macerata, or tower upwards from some rocky spur, with their fortifications cutting them off from the fields, vineyards and market gardens below. History and the passing of centuries and peoples have left their mark on the stones of the houses, the layout of the streets and squares, but also on the land, slopes and beech woods. Man's presence has been constant and has allowed the preservation of authentic characteristics and traditions. From the old villages you can look down in admiration on the geometric layout of the fields, where green and brown alternate neatly. There is a perfect blend between the old town and the countryside round about, a continuous osmosis that has stood the test of time.
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