First stop: Ancona, Italy's most important Adriatic port. Visit the port, a fish auction and the best local restaurants.

At La Moretta Restaurant, which dates from 1897, Mr. Corrado Bilò, executive chef and owner, presents a traditional stockfish soup, Stoccafisso all'Anconetana.

Visit vineyards in Monte Conero, where workers pick Montepulciano grapes from the vine used to make a round, red Conero wine.

Get a sneak preview of the Teatro delle Muse, which is set to reopen for the first time in 60 years. The mayor of Ancona, Fabio Sturani, accompanies Paolo on the tour.

Stop in at the local fish market, where individual fishing boats auction off their catch-live shrimp, scampi, prawns and the local specialty, St. Peter's fish.

Stroll through a cooperative Moncaro vineyard where Verdicchio grapes are cultivated.

Chef Beatrice of Torcoletto Restaurant prepares Brodetto Marchigiano, an intense Marches-style seafood stew. Watch the video clip

Finally, learn how spumante wine is made in Cupramontana by Colonnara. Watch workers prep the bottles the traditional way: by turning, freezing and re-filling them. Finish the visit off watching locals dance the "Santarello."

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