Senigallia Travel Guide: The Adriatic Coast Destination Americans Haven’t Found Yet

Senigallia, Marche.

Italy has always had a special place in our hearts, and whenever we visit, we seek out the authentic, under-the-radar destinations that many travelers overlook. We love discovering towns where Italian is still the language you hear on the streets (perfect for practicing my Italian!), where tourism feels secondary to daily life, and where local culture shines through. Earlier this year, we found exactly that in Senigallia during our first—though certainly not our last—trip to Italy’s Marche region. If you’re searching for an authentic Italian experience or planning a visit to Le Marche, read on to discover why this charming coastal town captured our hearts.

Senigallia, Italia.

Senigallia, Italia.

SENIGALLIA, LE MARCHE

Senigallia is a small city on the Adriatic Sea in Le Marche, one of Italy’s 20 regions. Located just east of Umbria, one of our all-time favorite Italian regions, it shares many of the qualities we love most about central Italy – rolling countryside, far fewer American tourists than the country’s more famous destinations, and incredible food and wine. But Le Marche offers something that landlocked Umbria cannot; a stunning stretch of Adriatic coastline lined with long, sandy beaches, a rarity in much of Italy and Europe.

Senigallia on a map.

Senigallia on a map.

Situated roughly midway between Ancona, Le Marche’s capital, and Pesaro, Senigallia is beloved by Italians for its beautiful beaches and is regarded, at least amongst those in the know, as one of Italy’s top food destinations. After attending our friends’ wedding in Tuscany, we headed here for a few days of great meals and seaside relaxation, and Senigallia exceeded our expectations.

An old Senigallia advert.

An old Senigallia advert.

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La Lopa Matera Review: An Unforgettable Cave Restaurant in the Sassi

Orecchiette.

I returned to Matera for the second time last October, just prior to visiting my friend’s family hometown of Irsina. We had some not-so-wonderful meals our first time in Matera, so this time I prioritized great food (and succeeded!). La Lopa, a cave restaurant only a few steps from our hotel, receives good reviews and serves local Lucan dishes. I called a few days in advance and, very luckily, reserved a table for 8 without issue. Little did I know, we would have our own private room and some of the best food of the entire trip! Continue reading

3.5 Days in Rome: The Ultimate Food & Sightseeing Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Colosseum, Roma.

If you have been following recent posts, our family trip to Italy began and ended in Rome, with one day on the front end and 2.5 days on the back end. This left us just 3.5 total days to to experience one of the most historic and delicious cities in the world. Knowing our audience, we prioritized the Rome’s tourist highlights and eating the best food possible.

Rome at sunset.

Rome at sunset.

Now, is that enough time in Rome? Absolutely not. But if you’re planning a 1–2 week Italy itinerary and hopping around Italy, this is realistically the amount of time many travelers dedicate to Rome. The good news? With the right plan, 3.5 days is enough to see Rome’s iconic highlights, wander its charming streets, soak in centuries of history, and — perhaps most importantly — eat some absolutely unforgettable food.

Centro Storcio, Roma.

Centro Storcio, Roma.

This article breaks down exactly how we spent our time in Rome, what’s worth prioritizing, and how to experience the city without feeling completely overwhelmed.

The Colosseum.

The Colosseum.

DAY 1: LANDING IN ROME, ROOFTOP DINING, TREVI FOUNTAIN, A FOOD TOUR THROUGH TRASTEVERE, AND SANT’IGNAZIO CHURCH

We excitedly arrived in Rome on a Saturday morning. Immigration was delightfully quick and all our luggage arrived. A pre-booked car had us at our hotel by noon. This trip, unlike other Rome trips, we spent our first night in the Piazza Barberini area, at Hotel Rome Mate Collection Filippo and the Aleph Rome. Both hotels were excellent and highly recommended. We selected these hotels knowing they would be great for a restful first night (i.e., strong air conditioning and American mattresses, IYKYK).

The very beautiful Hotel

The very beautiful Hotel Room Mate Collection.

After dropping our luggage, most of the group walked to Rinascente, which is an upscale Roman department store (kind of like Printemps or Galleries Lafayette in Paris). We [sadly] did not shop and instead made our way to the rooftop restaurant for lunch and Roman views. The weather was perfect. We started the trip strong with a delicious focaccia pizza topped with prosciutto and figs.

Fig foccacia.

Fig & Prosciutto Foccacia at Rinascente.

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How to Order Focaccia in Italy: La Focacceria 5 Lire in Matera

My personal favorite - the Eggplant Parmesan.

I typically don’t write about grab-and-go type restaurants, but I cannot stop thinking about La Focacceria Italiana 5 Lire Matera in Matera, Italy. The friends that I visited it with also loved it, so here is my post on how you can visit and properly order from La Focacceria Italiana 5 Lire Matera (or, honestly, most focacce in Italy).

5 Lire Matera.

5 Lire Foccaceria Italiana Matera.

La Focacceria 5 Lire Matera, or simply “5 Lire” around town, is a very casual “focacceria” in Matera. It is located on Via Domenico Ridola above the Sassi. It is named for the former currency of Italy, the “lire”, which changed to the euro in 1999.

Via , just outside of 5 Lire.

Via Via Domenico Ridola, just outside of 5 Lire.

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A Perfect (and Reasonably Priced) Lunch in Irsina: Trattoria Nugent

Trattoria Nugent, Irsina, Italy.

As promised, in follow up to my last post discovering family roots in Irsina, Basilicata (Italy), this post highlights a stand out lunch at Trattoria Nugent, one of only a handful of restaurants in this small, charming town.

In short, it was everything you’d hope for in a local Italian meal. The restaurant was easy to find, welcoming, and absolutely delicious. It was also very local, and the prices pleasantly reasonable. It was exactly the kind of place that makes travel feel personal – simple, genuine, and deeply satisfying.

Our group at Trattoria Nugent.

The group at Trattoria Nugent in Irsina, Italy. Trattoria Nugent had no issues with accommodating a group of 10!

TRATTORIA NUGENT

Trattoria Nugent is located in a picturesque courtyard of Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, Irsina’s main square. Open every day for lunch and dinner, except Tuesday, this restaurant describes itself as serving traditional Lucana dishes. We made a reservation a week in advance by having our tour guide call ahead. That being said, you can contact Trattoria Nugent via its What’s App, which information is on its Instagram page, to make a reservation. While you may not need a reservation, they are incredibly common in Italy so that restaurants can prepare an appropriate amount of food. Read – be like a local and make a resy!

Trattoria Nugent in Irsina.

Trattoria Nugent in Irsina.

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