Castelfidardo

A pretty brick-built town in Le Marche, Castelfidardo sits on a rocky spur at the foot of the Conero Promontory. Home to about 18,000 residents, it is best known as the "city of the accordion" and "city of music". That's because the town has had a long history tied to the artisan manufacture of the popular folk instrument, and still carries on the craft today.

The box-shaped, bellow-driven accordion has long been a staple of bands and folk musicians around Italy; here, you can see more about the history, the various forms, and how they are made at the museum dedicated to the musical instrument, the International Museum of the Accordion, located in the town hall. Called a "fisarmonica" or "organetto" in Italian, Castelfidardo is the center of it -and hosts two prestigious international musical festivals, one in June and one in September.

Beyond the accordion, the town has a lovely atmosphere as it stretches along the low ridge with its honey-colored brick and views to the Adriatic Sea, which is just a few minutes away. On the other side, it overlooks the rolling hills of Le Marche with its olive groves, sunflower fields and vineyards. Castelfidardo is at the gateway to the Conero Coast and is near the spiritual pilgrimage town of Loreto.

The town's heroic history in helping liberate the area from the Papal States is celebrated at the National Monument of Le Marche (called the Monumento Nazionale ai Vittoriosi, "to the victors") with a bronze sculpture from 1911. There is also a museum dedicated to the Risorgimento (or unification of Italy). Don't miss the Villa Ferretti with its art collection, and the charming sculptural fountain called "Il bosco della musica" (the woods of music). Outside town is a wooded nature reserve called La Selva.

Savor the flavors of Le Marche in the area's restaurants -both hill cuisine and seafood are served here. The Adriatic beaches are just a few minutes away.