Il Rifugio dei Marsi

Ready to get active? The family are happy to help you organise kayak and canoe trips on Lago di Gerosa (15 minutes’ drive), mountain trekking or quad biking in Monti Sibillini National Park (half an hour) or guided horse rides (20 minutes) in the hilly meadows and woodland around Ascoli Piceno (15 minutes). It’s definitely worth taking time to explore gorgeous Ascoli Piceno itself; this elegant town has a buzzy historic centre with medieval bronze statuary and fountains in Piazza Arringo, plus a clutch of baroque churches to admire. Cultural sightseeing done, head for Renaissance-era Piazza del Popolo, packed with alfresco cafés for leisurely evening drinks. Other pretty spots deserving a closer look include Castel Trosino (20 minutes), a whitewashed hill village sitting above forest on a rocky crag. Surrounded by 15th-century fortified walls, mellow-stoned and red-roofed Offida (half an hour) has inspiring views over the Tesino and Tronto valleys, while Sarnano (40 minutes) is packed with galleries, museums, restaurants and bars; climb uphill to the church at twilight for vivid sunsets over Monti Sibillini peaks.