Not much has been mentioned about the coast along the Adriatic, particularly parallel to Florence. Any input on that area around, say Ancona or Pesaro and environs? Got my next 2 month trip coming up in Sept-Oct. Not been over that way.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I think I can safely say that the coastline there is all one long, flat beach, fronted by basic, modern architecture, and summer tourist services, as it also is south to Pescara. But I see a park on the map, just north of Pesaro.
Recall these reports that Zoe made last summer:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/pesaro-to-urbino
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/le-marche-macerata-and-ascoli-piceno
Posted by
OP
Virginia, USA
792 posts
ok, in other words ...boring
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16235 posts
Ancona is where I did my basic military training (long time ago) exactly starting in early September for several weeks into October. Pretty city.
It was still warm, but not a soul on the area beaches except for few on weekends. Schools start on the week of Sept 11, 2017, therefore vacationers will be all gone by the end of August.
Most of the beaches from Ancona north all the way past Venice are long flat beaches, since it's flat land like Florida. Lots of beach concessions are active in the summer which will rent you umbrella/chairs and stuff, but I can tell you that in September they'll be mostly all closed for the season.
To me the most beautiful spot on the Italian Adriatic, north of Puglia which is also beautiful, is exactly there, near Ancona, in particular just south of it, where the Mount Conero Park is. Check it out below.
http://www.parks.it/parco.conero/gallery_dettaglio.php?id=13805
There are also great places to visit in the Marche region in the interior. Take a read below:
http://www.turismo.marche.it
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Thanks, Laura. I'm not a beach vacation person (lived in Miami/Miami Beach most of my life, beached out), so most of my trip reports didn't mention beaches.
I liked the beaches at Pesaro and around Ancona, though, less concrete than other places. Did not get to the beaches Roberto mentioned.
Posted by
20 posts
Hi Jim,
I wanted to add some info regarding the adriatic coast, but further south in Abruzzo. My wife and I spent a week there last year since that is where her family is from. Well, let's just say that we ended up staying at once of the most perfect, surreal places...
In Vasto, a place called Bagni Vittoria. It was amazing. You are literally on the Adriatic, walk on the rocks, fish, small private beaches. Each room is a private bungalow. There is only about 6 or 7.
Take a look just for the pictures. Pure paradise. Might be a nice escape on your 2 month stay,
Posted by
OP
Virginia, USA
792 posts
Thanks Roberto, Zoe and Paul. Might make a nice drive over that way. The photos sure look great.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2334 posts
Since our first trip to Europe in 1999 (Urbino), I have saved a tourist brochure from Le Marche with a photo of an Adriatic beach taken from above. It's at the bottom of white cliffs which have greenery on top. Below there are about 20 red beach umbrellas set up on a narrow strip of beach (compare that to Rimini, etc.!). I have yet to determine where this photo was taken or how one would get to beach from up top. Perhaps I should write to the Regione Marche tourist information office and ask! Or just maybe someone here will know.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
Not all the beaches on that coast are flat. I lived and worked in Italy and spent lots of time in Portonovo when I wasn't working which is not far from Ancona. Beaches in Portonovo are rocky, surrounding area has some large cliffs. Water was typically pretty calm and flat unless there was a storm. August is the busiest month and even then, I never ran into other North Americans. It was mostly locals and a small number of German tourists. Generally very quiet and low-key area and if I wanted excitement, I went to Rimini. You may, however, run into more Americans now in Portonovo. Last time I recommended the area to a friend, she stopped for dinner at Hotel Fortina Napoleonico and 20 minutes after being seated, George Clooney walked in with his entourage. Clooney must like the quiet "boring" places as there are less tourists gawking at him or bothering him for selfies.