House rental in Ancona, Italy - Casa 'La Gioia' - generous country house among peaceful hills - Property 11343

Suggested sights: We love to stroll around the little old towns in the countryside, built on top of hills and surrounded by their old walls, like Jesi, Corinaldo or San Leo, just to name 3 out of hundreds. Senigallia and Fano are nice seaside-towns, suitable for bathing, dining and shopping. Be sure to visit the Grotte di Frasassi, for a one hour tour through a large cave-system discovered around 1970. Hiking in the lower mountains around the Grotte di Frasassi is a wonderful way to discover a part of Italy where nobody else usually goes. The monastery of Fonte Avellana is a perfect place to spend a few hours in the mountains, visiting a structure that almost hasn't changed in the last 800 years, together with its library that holds thousands of really old books. There is a beautiful 4-hour hike close to the monastery too. Another highlight is the Monte Conero, south of Ancona, where the coastline is untypically steep for the Adria, and beaches are small and romantic.

Typical products: In the Marche agriculture has always been an important source of income. Wheat, sunflowers, grapes, artichokes and olives are typical for the region, as well as honey and pecorino cheese (especially 'formaggio di fossa'). A famous white wine is 'Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi' produced by many small family-run businesses around Jesi, for example by Zaccagnini in Staffolo, where you can buy your wine directly where it grows. Another wine is 'Lacrima di Morro d'Alba', delicious red wine, produced in such small quantities that it is almost not exported. And of course there is any kind of fresh fish sold in the daily fish-market in Senigallia. In Monterado, 5km from the house, you can buy delicious fresh pasta every workday, and on Saturdays there is Porchetta (pork roast) freshly made and stuffed with herbs and garlic.

To own a home...: Maybe our guests like our house especially because originally my parents didn't intend to let it, they wanted a place to come back to after spending a few years in the United States. This is why they built and decorated everything the way they liked it themselves. When it became clear that they would be staying in the US for a few more years, we started renting the house during the summer. After they finally returned to Italy in 2002 they lived in the house for several years, still leaving during the summer to be able to rent the house. But since the house was too big just for two and having to pack up every spring was upsetting them, they built a little addition on the valley-side of the house where they now live all year round. They still travel a lot but if they are present, they will greet you, show you round and answer any questions you may have. Otherwise they will not interfere and let you enjoy your holiday. I'm Mirjam, one of the doughters, coordinating the rent from Germany.

Learn more about this vacation rental at the owner's website:

• Owners Website - Click here for more information on my Country House in Marche