The appearance of the low and sandy coast of the Marches changes radically when you get to the peninsula of Ancona. Here the hills stretch out towards the sea, and it is right on the tip of this peninsula that the hills become mountains. Suddenly we see imposing cliffs that reach heights of over 100m in Ancona alone, reaching the dizzying height of 572m on Mount Conero. And just after the cliffs begin, we start to see the famous caves carved out of the rock: it’s a constant feature, but one which thins out as you head down to Portonovo Bay.
This stretch of coastline is known as the Grotta Azzurra (lit. the ‘Blue Cave’). Indeed, it is none other than a seaside cave that marks the end of this stretch of coast to the south, beyond which, separated by the sea and therefore inaccessible on foot, are the Passetto Caves. To the north on the other hand, this stretch of coast ends with the beginning of the city’s shipyards, a picturesque juxtaposition, with Ancona Cathedral and the new lighthouse rising up above the cliffs, along with buttresses from the Fascist era that strengthen these in one specific place.
The beach, made up of rocks mixed with walkways and concrete piers in front of the caves, can only be reached via a path that passes over the Grotta Azzurra or from the sea. Above this, on the cliffs, is Cardeto Park.
Marche Film Commission — Fondazione Marche Cultura
Piazza Cavour 23 — 60121 Ancona
Phone: +39 071 9951 623/624/625
Email: silvia.pincini@fondazionemarchecultura.it
