Italy 2018: Jesi, Barbara and at the seashore

restaurant 'Gente di Mare' in Cattolica

Monday, 18 June 2018: super day with soo many highlights.

We left our house in the mountains in the morning and headed for our next home for 2 nights Castello di Granarda, a classy place with a pool and yoga lessons. Some photos of our room:

our room

the pool with a view

However, before arriving at our new 'home', we decided to detour and started with a visit to the very old Abbazia Cistercense Santa Maria di Chiaravalle di Fiastra. Unfortunately the monastery was closed, however, the church was open for visitors. 

frescoes 

And what about the beauty of the scenery we passed through: the Le Marche hills, the vineyards, the cornfields, the sunflowers.

We planned to visit the winery 'Cantina Santa Barbara' of Stefano Antonucci, which was more or less on the route. We know several of their white wines very well bought at Brand in Leiden. Their top white wine the 'Tardo ma non tardivo' is definitely our favourite.

tasting (and buying) in the cellars

However, before going there we visited Jesi, the town that gives its name to the Verdicchio de Jesi wine. We wanted to have lunch and as Barbara is a very tiny village, we thought the town of Jesi would give us a better chance of finding a nice restaurant. Well, we were right, however, we couldn't have dreamed to find the, totally by coincidence, best restaurant in the neighbourhood the 'Hosteria Dietro le Quinte'. Wow, innovative dishes of great quality AND a superb view from the outside terrace over the town of Jesi and its surrounding area. Loved it.

Jesi

door of the church

ordering lunch

Lukewarm thai soup, raspberry caramel and scallops for me

sea bass ceviche, clam and roasted lettuce for Peter

 

les pastas

yummie 'false tiramisu'

In the evening we followed the advise of the receptionist of our hotel and went to Cattolica at the coast, which is a 15 minutes drive.

What a difference from where we were yesterday, here it's busy with families strolling along the harbour, lots of restaurants, shops and even a ferris wheel.

the harbour 

the fishing boats

the small ferry 

Lido 

We had a lovely dinner at the superbly situated restaurant 'Gente di Mare', wow what a cool place, with lovely food and wine.
It was a super day. 

sunset

crudite de mare

dressing made by the waitress

more raw fish

Before going to sleep we enjoyed the view at our hotel.