Spiaggia di Numana e Marcelli

Numana sits at the southern end of the Conero Riviera, about eighteen kilometres south of Ancona, marking the point where the dramatic cliffs of Monte Conero give way to the gentler, sandier coast running south toward the rest of the Marche. The town's beaches fall into two distinct zones. Below the old upper town, Numana Alta has small pebble and gravel coves wedged beneath low cliffs, reached by steps and paths, with clear water and an intimate scale; Numana Bassa, around the port, has broader beaches and the main concentration of services. To the south stretches Marcelli, a long, straight sandy beach lined with stabilimenti, bars, and restaurants, gentler and more family-oriented than the pebbly coves to the north, with shallow water suited to children. The whole area carries Blue Flag recognition for its water quality, and the seabed and sea conditions are calmer than at the wilder Conero beaches. Numana's port is significant beyond the town itself, as it is the principal departure point for the boat shuttles that carry visitors to the famous Due Sorelle cove and to other inaccessible stretches of the Conero coast, making the town a natural base for exploring the riviera by sea. Sunbeds, parasols, and water sports including kayaking and windsurfing are widely available, and the resort has a relaxed, traditional Italian seaside atmosphere. The medieval upper town of Numana, with its panoramic Costarella street and views over the coast, is worth exploring in the evening, and the neighbouring town of Sirolo lies just to the north. With its mix of pebbly coves, long family sand at Marcelli, Blue Flag water, and its role as the gateway to the Conero's boat-access beaches, Numana offers the most rounded and convenient base on the southern Conero Riviera.