Where the sea meets the mountains

(4h – 8.3.km)

Starting from Poggio Sant’Antonio, cross a wooded stretch until you reach Pian Grande, from where you enjoy a splendid view of Baia di Portonovo. Continue towards the crypt of Chiesa di San Pietro and walk along the cliffs to the belvedere overlooking Baia delle Due Sorelle.

(1h – 2.2km)

Starting from Gran Piano, follow the nature path to the left that leads to a spectacular vantage point overlooking the sea. From here, follow the uphill path to the right until you reach variant 301B. Now, follow the asphalt road to the former Camaldolese Convent.

(30min – 0.7km)

Starting from Pian di Raggetti, follow the wide path uphill through the forest. Passing Casa Lucignani on the left, after 100m you leave the path and arrive at the rock engravings. If you continue, you’ll reach the asphalt road.

(20min – 0.2km)

Starting from the former Camaldolese Convent and following the path towards Fonte d’Olio, you take a detour to the left and soon after reach a natural cave known as Grotta del Mortarolo.

(3h – 5.4km)

Starting from Sirolo, take the provincial road towards Ancona and turn right at the first crossroads onto Via Vallone, an asphalt road that takes you uphill. After passing the Sirolo cemetery, you soon reach a dirt road that winds along the edge of the cliff. At a crossroads (junction with path no. 1), descend to the right, take the second small road that takes you uphill on the left and you’ll reach an olive grove. Continue on a path through dense Mediterranean scrub, which offers wonderful views of the beaches of Sirolo and Numana. You’ll then arrive at Passo del Lupo, a rocky spur overlooking the sea and from which there is a spectacular view of the small Baia delle Due Sorelle Bay, which can be reached via a ferrata for which technical sportswear is required.

(3h – 2.9km)

Starting from Via Vallone in Sirolo, you reach a viewpoint and continue through a pine forest to Spiaggia dei Sassi Neri, where you can admire the characteristic Scaglia Rossa limestone.

(1h – 1.8km)

Starting from Parco della Repubblica, follow the main road to the panoramic vantage point. Here you can admire Monte Conero and Spiaggia dei Sassi Neri. Then, following the fence, take the dirt road that descends inside a marly cliff characterised by a forest of Aleppo pines. The road narrows into a path that quickly descends to Spiaggia di S. Michele. Once on the beach, you can continue to the right until Urbani Grotto, a natural cave located at the foot of the plateau on which the village of Sirolo stands.

(2h – 6km)

Starting from Sirolo, walk to Fonte d’Olio on the provincial road that leads towards Ancona. When you reach the Alle Cave theatre, take the path to the right and until you see a dirt track. From there, continue left along and you will encounter, in succession, three old quarries, in the second of which you can admire the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary, an interesting geological formation. Continue to the left on the dirt road that leads up the right-hand side of the stream, and on the upper part of the path, follow the ridge to Pian di Raggetti.

(1h – 2km)

Starting from the geological site of Massignano, climb a wide dirt road that, after passing a few houses, reaches a grassy plain with a panoramic view of the southern slopes of Monte Conero. Continue to the left and, having reached the edge of the woods, at the fork take the small road that enters the scrub of pines and holm oaks. Continue straight ahead for a long stretch until you reach a crossroads at which you turn right to Pian di Raggetti.

(2h – 2.3km)

Starting from the sports field of Poggio, walk in the direction of Sirolo to an old quarry. From here, continue along a dense forest until the Roman Caves and the spectacular viewpoint over Monte S. Vicino.

(1h – 1.2km)

Starting from the small road that runs from the sports field of Poggio between the disused kiln and the abandoned quarry, you’ll reach a forest and then a steep climb. The path passes a ruin (Casa Mandolesi or Casa dei Gigli) that almost hidden by vegetation on the right and leads to Pian Grande.

(1h – 2.3km)

Starting from Baia di Portonovo, walk along Lago Grande to the Napoleonic Fort and imposing Torre di Guardia. Keep walking until you reach the Church of S. Maria di Portonovo and Lake Profondo, after which you can return to the starting point by walking back through the forest.

(1h – 1,8km)

Starting from Sirolo, take the panoramic provincial road to Ancona and, about 200 metres after the sign indicating the beginning of the town, turn right onto Via Monte Venanzio. After a few hundred metres, leave the asphalt road and take the dirt road to the left. At the crossroads, follow the path that leads you uphill into the forest. At the next crossroads, take the path to the right which, through numerous hairpin bends consisting largely of steps, leads to the white limestone beach of La Scalaccia.

(2h – 3.2km)

Starting from Siloro, continue in the direction of San Lorenzo. When you reach the square of the same name, descend to the Capo d’Acqua spring and then walk uphill through the oak grove. At the end of a rather steep stretch, you reach a farmhouse from which you take a flath path. Turning right towards a pine forest, you reach the summit of Monte Colombo (253m), a panoramic vantage point from which you can enjoy views of Monte Conero, the coastline, and the hills of the Marche hinterland.

(3h – 6.7km)

Starting from the former Massignano quarry, head towards Sirolo. At kilometre 13, descend to the right and, at the fork, go left, then right again, and finally towards an oak forest. Take the small road to the left and then continue towards the valley. From here, go up to the left and arrive at a crossroads. Take the road to the right, arrive at a small wayside shrine, and continue straight on to a crossroads. From here, go right and follow a pine forest up the right-hand side of Pecorara.

(30min – 1.2km)

Starting from route 315, continue left until you reach a dirt road. Turn left and, at gate, turn right to reach a pine forest. At the end of the forest, you pass a series of meadows and then descend to the right. Continue along a path to the panoramic summit of Monte Colombo.

(3h – 7.3km)

Starting from San Germano, continue towards Ancona and after a few hundred metres turn right onto Via Bagnolo. Travel the entire length of the small road and turn left at the crossroads onto a wide carriageway. At the next crossroads, turn right and follow the long flat stretch that runs alongside Fosso Betelico, which offers a magnificent panorama. Having arrived at the net crossroads marked by two imposing trees, follow the path that on the right that leads uphill. Once past the aqueduct, leave the roadway and descend along a dirt track to a provincial road. Go uphill again on the right towards Massignano, pass through the village centre, and continue along the asphalt road that descends for about one and a half kilometres: at the fork, turn right onto a small road that skirts a wide meadow.

(3h – 4.4km)

Starting from Varano, follow the trail to the valley floor of Rio Boranico, from where you enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Monte Conero as well as the surrounding vineyards and the hills. Now, cross the small bridge over the stream and continue along a tree-lined trail to the village of S. Germano.