There are many places of historical interest within an hour's drive. One is nearby Sarnano, a beautifully restored small, centuries-old town on a hill with houses winding around it like a spiral. There are museums and beautiful churches. Amandola, a little further away, is known for its antiques market, ebony furniture and marquetry art. And for its cosy cafés under portico arches in the centro storico. Caldarola has a number of castles and Serrapetrona is famous for its elliptical-shaped square, excellent sparkling red wine, and festivals in summer. The beautiful provincial capitals of Ascoli Piceno (one of Italy's most beautiful squares!) and Fermo (theatre, duomo, antique market) are within an hour's drive. And don't forget to visit Camerino, the dukes' and university town with an influential history. Umbria (Foligno) can be reached within an hour, with a little further the towns of Assisi, Perugia, Spello, Spoleto, Trevi, Gubbio, etc. 

The Roman ruins in the nearby medieval town of Urbisaglia, along the road to Macerata, are well worth a visit. Here you will find a beautifully preserved amphitheater, where Greco-Roman dramas are performed in summer. A visit to the lively cathedral city of Macerata is recommended not only for lovers of terraces, churches, architecture and good cuisine. Those interested in opera can visit the beautiful Sferisterio, Italy's third largest open-air theatre. Every year in summer, operas and concerts are performed here. The University of Macerata was founded in 1290, making it one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Not much further along the coast is the Conero National Park with its many bays and beaches, and nearby the town of Recanati where the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi was born. Of course, there are also well-known seaside resorts on the Adriatic coast: Civitanova Marche is about 45 minutes away, the beaches of San Benedetto del Tronto, Numana, Sirolo, Porto San Giorgio, etc. are a bit further away. 

On the way to the coast (motorway SS77var), you pass the exit to a design outlet, Il Castagno Brand Village, as well as outlets of Tod's & Hogan, Prada, Roberto Botticelli, AGL, etc.

The hills and mountains (up to 2500m) of Villa Vallunga's immediate surroundings are a popular cycling destination and local communities support cycling tourism. There are several beautiful cycling routes nearby. Mountain bikes, road bikes and e-bikes can be rented at several places. The Sibillini Mountains have an abundance of on- and off-road cycling routes, including the Grande Anello dei Sibillini, with dramatic elevation changes and unforgettable landscapes and views.

The Italian site www.piste-ciclabili.com/regione-marche has several cycling routes in Le Marche. The website Wikiloc has a wealth of cycling and hiking routes in Le Marche. Tourist offices can provide more information about the possibilities in the Monti Sibillini National Park, a hiking paradise with lakes, peaks, plateaus, gorges, streams, waterfalls and rock faces. True lovers of hiking will be in their element here. The park can be easily reached from the house in 20-30 minutes by car. For the tougher tours, a guide is recommended. Hikers not only get their money's worth in the hills and mountains, but also in the ancient towns and villages, with a steep climb here and there. The hiking trails near Lago di Fiastra are also recommended.

Cycling and walking tours are also possible directly from Villa Vallunga, varying in duration from one or two hours to a full day. You can start your walking or cycling tour from the house, with the antique Mulino Brunforte, a 13-century mill currently being restored, just a few minutes away. Le Marche's Strade Bianche (unpaved roads) offer countless opportunities for hiking and cycling, both in hilly and mountainous landscapes. There are also hiking and cycling trails along the beaches, for example at San Benedetto del Tronto, Grottammare and Cupra Marittima. There is also a lot of cycling and hiking in the surroundings of the Conero Natural Park, often with a view of the sea.

In the area there are dozens of restaurants, pizzerias, (food) cafes, bistros, terraces, ice cream parlours, etc. In the house you will find a manual with options in a number of nearby villages and towns, such as Gualdo, Sarnano, Penna San Giovanni, Sant' Angelo in Pontano, Loro Piceno, Monte San Martino, San Ginesio, Amandola, Ripe San Ginesio, Tolentino, Serrapetrona, Belforte del Chienti, Camporotondo di Fiastrone, Urbisaglia, Colmurano, Servigliano, etc. Il Tiglio in Montemonaco has a Michelin star. Wine tasting is also a possibility, there are several wineries in the area, such as Saputi in Colmurano and Tenuta Murola near Urbisaglia.

For markets, opportunities abound: every town has its own weekly market with items ranging from meat, fruit and vegetables, cheese, wine and local produce, to clothes, shoes, pots and pans, etc. There are also several antique and art markets in Le Marche. 

Especially in the period April - October, there are many events. For concerts, festivals, sports competitions, fairs and other events see: https://www.nonsoloeventimarche.it/index.php

For shopping, there are plenty of shops/supermarkets/bakers/butchers/fishmongers nearby: the manual in the house contains all kinds of information. In Gualdo (3 minutes) you will find two cafés, two small supermarkets, a bakery, pharmacy, butcher, hairdresser, petrol station, charging stations, etc. There is a tiny market on Tuesdays. Sarnano (10 min) offers all the amenities of a small town, with several cafes, pizzerias and restaurants. There is a market on Thursdays.

The following seaside resorts and beaches are easy to drive to from Gualdo, from north to south:

Spiaggia della Scalaggia is just south of Ancona. After a really brisk descent, you reach a spectacular, rocky beach, where it is usually quiet, especially outside the summer months.

Mezzavalle is a little further south. Again, you have to descend quite a bit, but the reward is one of Le Marche's most beautiful beaches. There are no umbrellas and sunbeds for rent on this quiet beach. There is, however, a small restaurant. Parking is at the top of the road. 

Portonovo beach can be very crowded in summer. To find a parking space, it is advisable to arrive early then. There are a few good restaurants and beach pavilions. 

The beach of Le Due Sorelle (The Two Sisters, two rocks in the sea) can only be reached by boat from Numana. Lunch and drinks have to come with you as there is no restaurant. From the boat you have a nice view of the coast.

San Michele, just north of the pretty town of Sirolo, comes highly recommended. Reached via a steep descent or with a shuttle service from one of the beach-bed and umbrella rental companies. There are also good restaurants and pavilions. The village of Sirolo has a beautiful square, with lovely sea views. Gelateria Quattrini is fantastic!

The pebble beach below the pretty village of Numana has parking spaces, beach pavilions and restaurants. There is also a small marina. It can be very busy in August, but the beach is very long to the south, with many parking spaces and restaurants. It is also a good place to be in early and late season. In Numana, there are several good restaurants and terraces. The ice cream at gelateria Morelli is delicious. Beautiful panoramas over the coast.

A little further south is Porto Recanati, with a beach with small pebbles and a promenade with restaurants. From the Torre del Borgo in Recanati, some 10 km inland, you have a fantastic 360-degree panorama of the area.

From Gualdo, the sandy beach of the town of Civitanova Marche is the closest. There, there is a promenade with several beach clubs, restaurants and wide beaches with sunbeds and parasols. Parking can also be booked at some clubs.

Further south is the beautiful beach of Porto San Elpidio, where the sea can be a bit wilder.

Even further south are the beaches of Porto San Giorgio: palm trees, sand, beach bars.

Torre di Palme has pleasant pebble beaches, not far from the pretty historical center on the rocky hill some 800 meters away, with cozy terraces and eateries.

Pedaso, like Torre di Palme, is a small coastal town with sand and pebble beaches. On weekends in August, it can get quite crowded here.

Cupra Marittima is a smaller resort, where it usually doesn't get very crowded. On the sandy beach, there are several good restaurants and pavilions.

Grottamare is a bit larger. This 'pearl of the Adriatic' has lots of beach bars and restaurants. A typical Italian seaside resort, with a cosy, small-town atmosphere. Above the town is the attractive Grottamare Alta, with a nice old centre.

San Benedetto del Tronto really has the atmosphere of a small town, with many opportunities for bathers. There are long sandy beaches with plenty of catering facilities.

Lago di Fiastra is just under half an hour from Gualdo. Here you can relax on the right bank of this freshwater basin with crystal clear, turquoise deep blue water. There are sunbeds and parasols. Canoeing, sailing, pedalos, etc. are available. On hot summer days, this lake offers very pleasant coolness.