With 170 km of coastline, Le Marche is an ideal summer destination: sandy beaches, wild coves set among cliffs, Mediterranean vegetation, family-friendly seaside resorts, plus many hilltop historic villages to visit when you want a break from the beach.
The Conero area of Le Marche is one of the most popular for a seaside vacation: white sand, turquoise sea, picture-perfect views, cliffs overlooking the Adriatic sea, pine forests and lush vegetation.
The ‘Due Sorelle’ (Two Sisters) beach in Sirolo, with its rocks, is the symbol of Conero, not to be missed. The beach takes its name from the two white faraglioni, sea stacks, jutting out of the sea at one end of the small cove. Sirolo is a hilltop medieval borgo with panoramic views of the sea which could make for a good base.
Portonovo beach is another favorite, with its ‘Vela’ rock and crystal clear waters. Numana and Senigallia are also popular destinations. Senigallia is home every summer to the Summer Jamboree Festival, dedicated to the music and culture of 1940s and ‘50s America. We covered it here.
Overall, Le Marche rank high in the annual report by the Foundation for Environmental Education, which selects towns whose bathing waters have been valued ‘excellent’ in the last four years. Le Marche also rank high for quality of services offered, the level of tourist hospitality, and the attention to the environment and sustainability.
Le Marche is also a family-friendly destination thanks to its wide sandy beaches, shallow waters, seaside establishments with play areas, equipped with umbrellas and beach chairs, and familiar hospitality. Among the best family beaches are Gabicce Mare, Pesaro, Senigallia and Civitanova Marche, as well as Sirolo, Numana and Lido di Fermo.
Gabicce Mare, another favorite Le Marche beach town, is part of a small bay called Baia degli Angeli (Angels’ Bay), at the end of the Gulf of Rimini, on the northern slopes of Monte San Bartolo, home to a natural reserve of the same name, where trails lead on to fantastic views or pristine coves.