Riviera delle Palme (San Benedetto del Tronto)

San Benedetto del Tronto is the southernmost coastal town of the Marche, in the Ascoli Piceno province close to the Abruzzo border, and the flagship of the stretch of coast known as the Riviera delle Palme, the Palm Riviera. Its beach is broad, flat, and composed of fine golden sand, kept exceptionally well groomed, and it shelves gently into calm, shallow Adriatic water that suits families and bathers of all ages. The feature that gives the resort its name and identity is the seafront promenade: more than seven thousand palm trees, planted alongside oleanders and pines, line the long waterfront, giving San Benedetto an almost tropical, subtropical air unique on the central Adriatic. The promenade is wide and landscaped, with gardens, sculptures, play areas, and a continuous cycle path, and it forms one of the most attractive seafront walks in the region. The beach is densely organised into stabilimenti offering sunbeds, parasols, children's areas, restaurants, and lifeguard cover, with free public sections interspersed, and the resort has long held Blue Flag recognition for its water quality and services. San Benedetto remains a working fishing port, one of the most important on the Adriatic, and its seafood tradition is a major draw, with the local brodetto fish stew and fritto misto featuring on restaurant menus across town. The Riviera delle Palme extends north through Grottammare and Cupra Marittima, pretty resorts in their own right, so the whole stretch offers a continuous palm-shaded coastline. With its broad groomed sand, calm shallow water, landscaped palm promenade, and strong food and fishing culture, San Benedetto del Tronto is the natural choice for a relaxed family beach holiday in the southern Marche, and it is well connected by rail on the Adriatic line.