Castellano
13°C

Sant’elpidio a Mare

A promontory with sinuous shapes, designed by the winds that Mount Cònero, which gives its name to this area of ​​the Marche, encounters overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Dozens of beaches surrounded by rocks and luxuriant vegetation, reachable by sea or through paths and numerous cities rich in history and traditions: all this is the Riviera del Conero. To characterize the Riviera, a surprising, green and sometimes wild nature, a crystalline, unforgettable sea, and many beaches, some easily accessible, others more solitary and hidden. Among these, that of the Two Sisters stand out, so called due to the presence of the two large stacks (the “two sisters”, in fact), accessible only by sea and that of Mezzavalle.

Then there is the welcoming beach of La Vela, with its sail-shaped rock. Finally, it is impossible to resist the charm of the pebble and pebble beaches of Portonovo, all immersed in the Mediterranean scrub. Not to be missed in this pretty town is a visit to the Church of Santa Maria, a Romanesque jewel dating back to the 11th century. The Conero is, in fact, the Riviera of the city of Ancona. In the beautiful capital there are many things to see: the Cathedral of S. Ciriaco, the Rocca della Cittadella from the 16th century, the Bastion of S. Paolo al Cassero – Parco del Cardeto, the amphitheater, Piazza del Plebiscito, the Civic Art Gallery with works by Guercino, Lotto and Titian, the Archaeological Museum and the Omero State Museum, the only example of a tactile museum in Europe.

There are also several holiday resorts on the Riviera del Conero: starting with Sirolo, a typical medieval village overlooking the sea and the only area in the Marche region rich in archaeological excavations. Since 1200 the Church of the patron saint, San Nicola da Bari dominates the square. To admire: one of the largest Picene necropolises in the “Pini” area, and the Church of San Pietro al Conero (11th century), original work of the Benedictine monks

Another stop is Numana which in addition to the fabulous beaches, also offers a lot from a cultural point of view, such as the State Antiquarium which collects the treasures of Queen Picena and other necropolises, or the new Sanctuary where the “miraculous” wooden crucifix is ​​kept. which, according to tradition, was performed by those who took down the body of Christ from the Cross; finally to admire the “La Torre” Arch, the only medieval remnant of the tower of the ancient parish of San Giovanni

Also worth a trip is Recanati, the birthplace of the poet Giacomo Leopardi with the many places that remember him: Palazzo Leopardi with the adjoining library, the Colle dell’Infinito and the remains of the ancient Torre di Sant’Agostino that inspired the Solitary Sparrow. In this splendid town whose historic center is delimited by a wall of 1200, you can also admire the masterpieces of Lorenzo Lotto at Villa Colloredo Mels and in the Church of San Domenico. Do not miss a visit to the Cathedral of San Flaiano, with sarcophagi from the 1400s, including that of Pope Gregory XII, and a tour of Porto Recanati, the ancient colony of Potentia and the lively waterfront.

However, there are still many places within this Riviera, each of which houses ancient testimonies of art, culture and history that make it unique: Agugliano, Camerata Picena, Polverigi, S. Maria Nuova, Ostre Vetere, Castelfidardo, Camerano, Filottarno, Offagna, Osimo, Potenza Picena and Loreto, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world; without forgetting the hinterland, extraordinarily rich in plant and animal species and protected by the Conero Park. The heart of this environmental oasis which extends for 5800 hectares of protected area is represented by Mount Cònero (527 meters), whose characteristic profile can be seen from afar.