Conero Riviera & Spiaggia di Portonovo

The Conero Riviera is the most striking stretch of coast on the central Adriatic, where the limestone massif of Monte Conero rises to 572 metres and its wooded flanks fall sharply into clear turquoise water. Protected as a regional park since 1987, the area offers a rare combination on this otherwise flat coastline: white-pebble coves, sea cliffs, holm-oak forest, and a network of around eighteen waymarked walking trails. The best-known beach is Spiaggia di Portonovo, a sheltered bay of white pebbles backed by the small Romanesque church of Santa Maria di Portonovo and a Napoleonic fort; it has free-access sections alongside paid lidos. To the south, the medieval town of Sirolo perches on a clifftop terrace with a small piazza that hangs above the sea, while Numana, the southern gateway to the riviera, is a lively resort and the main departure point for boats to the Due Sorelle, twin rock stacks at the foot of the cliffs reachable only by sea. The water here is exceptionally clear and several beaches hold Blue Flag status. In summer, parking at Portonovo is paid and fills early, often by mid-morning; a free shuttle runs from an outer car park down to the bay. The best months are June and September, when the water is warm but the crowds of July and August have thinned. Walkers can combine a beach visit with the trail to the Belvedere Sud or the descent to the Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle. Allow a half to full day depending on whether the focus is swimming or hiking.