Spiaggia di Mezzavalle (Ancona)

Spiaggia di Mezzavalle is one of the wildest and most loved beaches of the Conero Riviera, lying about nine kilometres south of Ancona in the stretch of coast between the city and Portonovo bay. The beach is a long ribbon of sand mixed with fine gravel at the foot of the Monte Conero cliffs, entirely free and undeveloped, with the natural Mediterranean scrub of the park rising directly behind it. There is no road to the shore: visitors leave their cars at a clifftop car park or roadside above and descend on foot by a steep, sometimes rough path that takes roughly fifteen to twenty minutes down and a harder climb back up, an effort that keeps the beach quieter and more natural than the developed lidos to the north. The water is famously clear and clean, shelving into a deep blue that is excellent for swimming and snorkeling, and the absence of stabilimenti means towels are laid directly on the sand and gravel. A seasonal kiosk operates in summer for basic refreshments, but visitors are otherwise expected to bring their own water, food, and shade. Mezzavalle has a relaxed, alternative atmosphere and is known as a place where naturism is tolerated at its quieter southern end, though most of the beach is used by conventional bathers, families willing to make the walk, and young people drawn by the wild setting. Because it faces open sea beneath the cliff, conditions can turn choppy when the wind picks up, and there is no lifeguard cover on the free shore, so swimmers should judge the sea carefully. The reward for the steep descent is one of the most unspoiled and scenic beaches on the central Adriatic, with the green wall of Monte Conero behind and clear turquoise water in front.