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Discovering New Landscapes
We left off at the stunning Mezzavalle, but the exploration of Ancona’s coastline reveals many other breathtaking landscapes, often unknown to tourists.
These beaches can be reached either by sea or through adventurous trails—not the easiest routes, but certainly among the most rewarding.
Beaches Accessible by Sea
If you choose to explore by canoe, SUP, or more comfortably by rubber dinghy, heading from Mezzavalle toward Ancona, you will soon encounter the Scoglio del Trave. This limestone rock formation, 5 meters wide and about 1 km long (both above and below water), is one of the unique features of this coastline.
The first beach you will come across is Spiaggia della Vedova, also accessible by land via a steep path with numerous steps.
Continuing along the coast, you will reach Spiaggia della Scalaccia, another stunning location that can also be accessed via a demanding trail. Both beaches offer a raw, untouched beauty: no services, no umbrellas—just the smooth rocks sculpted by the sea and waters that shift between emerald green and crystalline blue.
The Passetto: Ancona’s City Beach
Leaving Scalaccia behind, you arrive at Spiaggia del Passetto, the city’s beloved beach. Unlike other beaches that require hiking trails, this one is accessible via a grand white marble staircase built in 1930. The staircase begins at the Monumento ai Caduti, an imposing circular temple in the Doric style, elegantly reinterpreted by the Ancona-born architect Guido Cirilli.
For those seeking a more comfortable descent, the Passetto Elevator, a charming 1956 construction, connects the city to the beach with ease.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by La Spiaggiola and the Seggiola del Papa, a striking white rock formation framed by dozens of colorful doors. These doors lead to the ancient fishermen’s caves, carved into the rock from the mid-19th century to the 1960s as shelters for fishing boats.
A Chapter Yet to Unfold
The Passetto holds many stories waiting to be told, but that is an adventure for another time...
For now, welcome to Ancona!
