Conero Riviera

 

 

While the capital of Marche offers the spectacle of the sun that rises and sets over the sea, the green headland of Mount Conero breaks up the orderly progression of the coastline and offers stunning scenery. The Bay of Portonovo is the ideal destination for visitors who wish to enjoy a holiday surrounded by nature in a peaceful atmosphere. It preserves architectural treasures such as the Romanesque Santa Maria Church, positioned on a steep cliff over the sea, and its beach is divided into two parts by a Napoleonic Fort.

 

Nearby, Sirolo, an old village in a picturesque position 125 metres above the sea, is famous for its small, charming beaches - Urbani, Sassi Neri, San Michele and Due Sorelle (Two Sisters), named after the two rocks that sit majestically facing the coast - which are sheltered by rocky walls and can be reached by following a path through the woods or by sea.

 

 

The sunny and windy, old medieval village of Sirolo, is situated between a fish-rich sea (the village crest features a bass) and the undulating hills of the surrounding countryside of wheat fields (including the excellent “Rosso Conero”) and olive groves.

 

 

Between the ancient town walls are numerous and bustling alleyways where craftsmen and merchants once lived, beautiful churches and Piazza Vittorio Veneto, a square with a wonderful view over the white cliffs of the Conero headland. Don’t miss a visit to the Teatro alle Cave, a theatre created in an abandoned quarry, which in summer offers unforgettable shows under a starry sky.

 

Crystal clear water, large golden sandy beaches and a well-equipped port are the strong points of Numana, the ancient port of the Piceni and a centre of trading with the Greeks in the VIII century BC.

 

 

 

Moving inland, away from the beaches of the Riviera, you encounter the route of art and faith. Recanati nestles among the gentle hills. The home of the great poet Giacomo Leopardi, this town preserves his birthplace, which houses items and manuscripts, and the Church of Sant’Agostino, whose belfry is the ancient tower Leopardi wrote about in one of his “canti” (songs) “The Solitary Bird”.

 

 

A marked route leads to Mount Tabor, the famous “hill of the infinite” in Leopardi’s poetry, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view.

 

 

 

The story of the Sanctuary began in the thirteenth century (10 December 1294) with the arrival of the house which was inhabited by the family of the Virgin Mary in Nazareth. This valuable relic was brought to Italy after the fall of the kingdom of the Crusades in the Holy Land. Tradition has it that a group of angels took the House and carried to Loreto.