The Marche region (also known as the Marches in English) forms
the eastern seaboard of central Italy with the regions of
Emilia-Romagna to the north and Abruzzo to the south. From the
narrow coastal plains the land rises sharply to the peaks of the
Appennines, which form a natural boundary with Umbria and
Tuscany to the west. While the coastal areas are heavily
populated, the beautiful inland countryside is sparsely
inhabited . The inland mountainous zones are mostly limestone
and are noted for bare peaks, rushing torrents, dramatic gorges
and many caves. In contrast, the areas nearer the coastal plain
are known for their fertile rounded hills topped by ancient
fortified towns. The highest point is Monte Vettore in the
Sibillini mountains. The coast itself boasts long sandy areas
and, apart from the limestone Conero peninsula, the land is
virtually all flat. Economically, the region is mostly reliant
on medium and small scale industries, often family run. Shoes,
clothing and furniture manufacturing are some o