Riviera del Conero – Ancona

The city of Ancona is located on the coast of central Adriatic on a promontory formed by the northern slopes of Monte Conero. The port of Ancona is one the most important ports on the Adriatic Sea: it’s a fishing, tourist, commercial and industrial port. The oldest part of town straddles Colle Guasco, the hill above the port. On its peak, stands Ancona’s finest and most remarkable church, the Medieval Cathedral of San Ciriaco. There are different beaches near Ancona: Passetto is the “urban beach”, featuring white-grey color rocks and the so-called “grotte” (caves), that were carved by fishermen to provide shelters for their small-sized fishing boats.To the north of Ancona the sandy beach of Palombina is more suitable for both children and families. Just south of Ancona rises the solitary limestone peak of Monte Conero whose steep slopes slide down to the sea; the bay of Portonovo, protected by the Regional Park of Monte Conero, is one of the prettiest white pebbled beach on the whole of the Northern Adriatic shore. On the bay, often crowded, there are few restaurants with a breathtaking view balcony serving fish dishes. “Della Vela” beach is a spectacular beach with a rock, shaped like a sail. It’s a free public beach, at the very end of the south versant of the bay. The beach of Mezzavalle adds a touch of wilderness and scenery to the beauties of the bay. Once in Ancona you can’t miss the two most typical and famous dishes: the Ancona stockfish (stoccafisso all’anconetana) and the “brodetto” (fish stew). A glass of Rosso Conero (local red wine) is recommended. Tourist informationwww.parcodelconero.com