A wonderful look at the coastline of Le Marche Italy.

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THE COAST • MARCHE REGION ITALY

2. THE MARCHE, ITALY IN ONE REGION
“If one had to decide which Italian landscape was the most typical,
you’d have to choose the Marche… Italy, with its range of land-
scapes, is a distillation of the world; the Marche is a distillation of
Italy.”
G. Piovene, Viaggio in Italia, 1957
180 km of coastline, stunningly beautiful beaches, 26 cities
facing the Adriatic Sea that are ideal sites for a relaxing holiday ,
the port of Ancona and 9 tourist harbours. 500 piazzas, 1000
important monuments, over a hundred cities boasting great works
of art, thousands of churches (200 of which are Romanesque),
183 religious shrines, 34 archeological sites, 72 historic theatres. E
The largest number of museums and galleries in Italy: 342 out of
239 boroughs. 315 libraries housing over 4 million volumes.
Several protected areas: 2 national parks (Monti Sibillini, Gran
Sasso and Monti della Laga), 4 regional parks (Monte Conero,
S
Sasso Simone and Simoncello, Monte San Bartolo, Gola della
Rossa and di Frasassi), 5 nature reserves (Abbadia di Fiastra, C
Gola del Furlo, Montagna di Torricchio, Ripa Bianca and
Sentina), more than 100 floristic areas and 15 state woods.
R
N
A
N
A
COORDINATION
Department of Promotion,
Internationalization, Tourism and Trade
Sandro Abelardi A
TEXT A
Tourism Service
Laura Capozucca
PHOTOGRAPHS BY
Tourism Service Archives-Region Marche
GRAPHICS
Tourism Service
Stefano Gregori
FREE DISTRIBUTION
Edition 2009

3. MARCHE REGION
T O U R I S M D E PA RT M E N T
ITALY IN ONE REGION
THE MARCHE

4. Numana’s and Sirolo’s centers in the
Mount Conero Regional Park (AN)

5. 3
Grottammare (AP)
A 180 km long coastline, beautiful beaches, Marotta slope down gently towards the
26 seaside resorts on the Adriatic Sea sea offering safe playgrounds to children
where you can spend quiet holidays, the and to people who do not have great
sea port of Ancona and 9 marinas. The familiarity with swimming.
shores of the Marche stretch from the The long and fine beaches, are divided up
promontory of Gabicce Mare to the mouth here and there by promontories, mouths of
of the River Tronto. It is divided in two streams or rivers, harbours and ports.
parts each facing a dif ferent direction To the north we find Gabicce Mare, a fine
starting from the promontory of Mount
Conero which is the most peculiar feature
of the entire Adriatic shore north of the
Gargano. The coastline is one of the many
examples of the great variety of landscapes
which nature has so highly bestowed upon
every tiny bit of the Marche territory .
Promontories, creeks, and small coves
mark the northern coast like jewels
underlining natures wild beauty creating a
strong visual impact. The shores of the
Province of Pesaro-Urbino go from the
mouth of the River Tavollo to the mouth of
the Cesano offering 40 km of beaches
stretching along rolling landscapes which
justify its name “Riviera of the hills”. The
wide sandy beaches from Gabicce to
A view of the coast between
Pesaro and Gabicce Mare (PU)

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Gabicce Mare (PU)
sparkling city where the echoes of
Gioacchino Rossini’s music still linger on,
offers 8 Km of wide and sandy beaches -
opened towards the sea or sheltered by
cliffs - and a quiet sea resort life.
A 20 Km long attractive scenic road
unwinds itself between Gabicce Mare and
Pesaro, crossing picturesque fishermen’s
sea side placed on two levels: the sea level towns perched high on steep clif fs plunging
laying on a small bay surrounded by a wide vertically into the deep blue of the Adriatic
sandy beach with many hotels and gardens, Sea: Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola di Focara,
the ideal place for the sunny hours of the Santa Marina Alta, the whole area is part of
day, while Gabicce Monte, perched on top Mount San Bartolo Regional Park,
of a scenic clif f covered by a wild founded in 1996 having much in common
vegetation, offers many evening and night with Mount Conero Park. Even if the clif fs
time attractions with its restaurants, here are not so steep they still maintain
pizzerias, and night clubs. Pesaro, the features of this region’s natural wild beauty.
The contrast between the naturally
sculptured seaside cliffs and the hinterland
hills carved for rural purposes, is there for
all to behold. This humid zone is regarded
important for the nation because of the
numerous species of marine birds that
spend the winter here, while it is of great
interest during spring when they migrate.
Fano (PU)
Civitanova Marche (MC)

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Senigallia (AN)
The “Rotonda a Mare”
The flowering brooms offer a suggestive sandy beaches interrupted by short shingle
and incomparable smells and colours ones. Openly cordial and friendly are the
blending into the crystal clear blue two resort areas of Fano: the short and
coast waters. sandy Lido to the north and the long and
Another scenic road unwinds on the shinghly Sassonia to the south, laying
Ardizio hill top, between Pesaro and Fano, between a picturesque fishing port. With its
where the seashore flattens up in linear and very ancient origins, Fanum Fortunae

8. 6
Ancona seen from Conero Mount
maintains clear and evident signs of its
history offering its guests an opportunity to
discover its artistic historical and cultural
assets. Two other friendly sea resorts are
situated between Rivers Metauro and
Cesano: Torrette di Fano and Marotta di
Mondolfo, with its old fishermen’s village
featuring a peculiar beach which is in
part of pebbles.
Senigallia, with its 12 km of white and
sandy beach is the perfect setting for a Montemarciano, originally the ancient city
summer holiday but its ancient origins (it of Marziano, there is Marina with its fine
was known in ancient times as Sena beach and its ruins of a fifteenth-century
Gallica, ancient capital city of the Senoni fortress; next to it there is Falconara
Gauls) offers sites of historical interest as Marittima very conveniently located near
well. By 1850’s the coaches of the Ancona, a perfect junction point of road,
aristocratic Romans and Austrians train, and airport networks. Close by there
already strolled on its avenues. is the beautiful beach of Palombina,
Porto Recanati (MC)
This tidy city has kept alive its old warm modernly equipped, it is the ideal setting
and welcoming attitude which together for a quiet family tourism.
with its “velvet beach” has made it famous In Ancona, we can certainly recommend a
throughout Europe. Nearby almost a scenic walk to Passetto, one of the most
natural follow up to the sandy beach is suggestive areas of the city of fering a fully
Marzocca. Moving on towards Ancona equipped park and a double stairway from
we can find other characteristic sea resorts. which it is possible to reach the sea below .
Only a few kilometres from The flat and levelled seashore is abruptly

9. Portonovo (AN)
S. Mary’s Church
Sirolo (AN)
“Two Sisters” Beach

10. 8
Portonovo’s Bay (AN)
bay oak trees. But the crown jewel of the
coast is certainly the Bay of Portonovo, an
uncontaminated wonder of nature, an ideal
destination for one who is looking for an
extraordinary place to spend a relaxing
interrupted to the south of Ancona by the holiday. Enchanting shades of colour play
green vegetation of Mount Conero (the on the surrounding landscape of Mount
first regional Park founded in the Marche Conero (572 m) especially during spring
in 1987) peremptorily merging within the when the broom is in flower and in autumn
deep blue of the Adriatic sea offering a when it is blanketed with the warm hues
view of rare and suggestive impact. It is a of corbezzolo – strawberry tree ( Komaros
natural environment which extends for Gk, from which derives the ancient name
approximately 6,000 ha and includes art, given to the promontory).
culture, history and excursion routes Among the many beaches ornating the clif f
entwined within the magic of the of the Conero is the “Two Sisters” beach,
Mediterranean mark. This is the starting walled in by steep rock clif fs, it is surely
point of one of the most beautiful seashore one of the most outstanding spots of the
area of the entire Adriatic coast: the Adriatic, two grand rock spurs rise from
“Conero Riviera”, with its changing the sea, which here takes on unusual
landscapes where white and sandy delicate chromatic hues. The best known
sheltered beaches are abruptly interrupted seaside resorts of Ancona’s coast are all
by steep rocky cliffs diving into the sea and here, enclosed within a few kilometres,
sometimes can be reached only by boats or Sirolo (which was given the “Queen of the
along small paths. A scenic road unwinds Italian beaches” from Legambiente
through all this area, often losing itself Award in 1996), Numana and Marcelli.
deeply into thick woods of pine, oak and Sirolo is in a picturesque location perched
Porto Recanati (MC)

11. 9
high above the sea. Once a fortified castle brilliant colours, has known a constant
it still holds traces of the ancient medieval increase in tourism; Marcelli is the most
structures. Headquarters of the Regional modern area of the Riviera, it features
Park visitors must pass through a small many tourist resorts, residences and
forest to reach its small but enchanting accommodation offering every comfort. To
beaches. Numana, the Roman Umana with the south of Mount Conero the coast again
its well equipped marina, clean waters and levels and the beach stretches and widens
for entire kilometres, through river outlets
and coast watertights. Porto Recanati, the
elegant “drawing-room on the sea”
immediately imposes its dominion on the
Adriatic with its 8 Km long sandy beach
which separates the town from the sea.
The ancient fishing district which was
constructed around the XV century Svevo
Castle, still conserves today environmental
characteristics of the past which are notable
when walking its paths accompanied by
the smell of the sea.
The beach and the woods run alongside as
they often do along shores of the Marche
with hills creating a perfect crown to the
sea. This is true for Porto Potenza Picena,
to the south of Porto Recanati, where the
hills favour a mild and temperate weather.
Next we immediately find Civitanova
Marche with its long beach divided by the
fishing and tourist ports, the latter one has
helped in the development of seaside
Civitanova Marche (MC)
Senigallia (AN)

13. 11
tourism. The Roman Cluana rose from the
ruins of around 1000AD, and gave life t o
two establishments: Castel or Ripa
Sancti Maroni and Civitanova Alta,
historic center of the actual town.
Many sport and art events are held here
during the summer season. The exhibition
building, the sport stadium, and the sailing
and windsurfing school complete the
picture of this seaside centre which meet
all age needs.
The geographical location of the city
together with the convenient links to the
road network make it the ideal starting
point for inland excursions as well as a
perfect junction to reach the principal
locations of this region.
To the south we can find Porto
Sant’Elpidio, an old sailor’s village, now
an important industrial centre and a well
equipped seaside resort. With its typical
Pedaso (AP)
San Benedetto del Tronto (AP)

14. 12
sandy beaches it marks the beginning of the pine-forests, the soft sand, the fresh depths
“Green Picena Riviera” enclosing many and the quite environment, Cupra
warm and welcoming seaside resorts, Marittima is an ideal holiday destination
lapped by the crystal clear water of the sea for children. The old district, still
and surrounded by gentle hills enlightened surrounded by a XV century wall, was
by the vivid Mediterranean flora. Only a depopulated during the early years of the
few kilometres away are Lido di Fermo XX century but recently it has been
and Porto San Giorgio, an important rediscovered and it is now a popular
industrial, fishing and bathing centre (with summer holiday location.
a marina able to house 1,000 boats). Its From Grottammare to San Benedetto del
ancient medieval core is now surrounded Tronto and up to Porto d’Ascoli, marking
by the modern town with its avenues, the southern boundary of the Marche, there
blooming gardens, and well equipped with are still more vast and sandy beaches
all the facilities for every kind of tourism. framed by an amazing background of
Further on south, we meet Marina palms and oleanders which are a
Palmense and Marina di Altidona, which characterising feature of the so-called
have encountered considerable expansion “Palm Riviera” with its typically
in recent years, while located on the
alluvial mouth of River Aso, lays Pedaso, a Cupra Marittima (AP)
bathing and farming centre where the sandy Pesaro - Imperial Villa
seashore is interrupted by the clif f.
After Pedaso, the climate assumes
Mediterranean characteristics thus
favouring a varied flora with lar ge thickets
of shrubbery and evergreens of all kinds.
The first location you reach is Cupra
Marittima, featuring of a medieval core on
a hill dominating the modern town that has
developed after 1890. For the beauty of the

15. Panoramic road Gabicce Mare - Pesaro in the
Mount San Bartolo Regional Park (PU)
Porto Recanati (MC) - The trawl-net

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Mediterranean, sub-tropical and tropical
vegetation, exotically scented by flavours
coming from overseas.
The urban layout of Grottammare features
a medieval core (Monte Castello) high on
a steep and picturesque hill towards the
sea still surrounded by ancient walls and of
a modern seaside town with villas, hotels
and bathing establishments merging into
the lush vegetation of paths and gardens.
Interesting for its history and natural
beauty, this area offers guests significant art
and spacious beaches with fine, uniform
sand which adjoins that of San Benedetto
del Tronto. The major sea resort of the
Piceno and one of the most important in
Italy boasts a selective clientele even at an
international level, the main attraction is
the vast and beautiful sandy beach, along
with the luxurious and relaxing green of the
palms, oleanders and pine woods. Modern
and elegant, San Benedetto del Tronto
develops around the old town centre where
the medieval origins appear in the steep a nd
Torre di Palme (AP)
San Benedetto del Tronto (AP)

17. 15
narrow alleys radiating from the Belvedere,
dominated by the fourteenth century
hexagonal Gualtieri Tower.
The Marche are characterised by lots of
small towns perched on the upper towns
crowning the shores, easy to reach from the
sea. These strategically located scenic
balconies are the ancient cores of the
antiques centres from which later on the
seaside towns have developed. Sometimes
their origins go as far back as the Picenes
era and here we can often admire the
remains of ancient watchtowers built to
defend the populations from the Saracens.
This is true for Gabicce Monte, the Roman
Castellum Ligabitii; Fiorenzuola di
Focara (which owes its name to the
lingering memories of the fire signals made
to the sailors); for Pesaro’s castles such as
Trebbiantico, Novilara (one of the most
important settlements of the Picenes era)
and Candelara (still surrounded by ancient
walls). In the province of Ancona too there
are many locations worthy of interest such
as: Falconara Alta, defensive castrum of
Falconara Marittima, the castle of
Montemarciano and Numana, ancient
Picenes port. One of the best examples of
the relationship between the seaside towns
and “high hill centres” is Civitanova
Marche and Civitanova Alta. Further
south, Porto San Giorgio, the roman
Navale Firmanorum, features two
distinctive areas, one towards the hills (the
Castle District and the fortress which we
can admire in Carlo Crivelli’s Polyptych of
Porto S. Giorgio) and, on the other side of
the main road, the seaside town. Few
kilometres away is Torre di Palme, a
castle perched high on a clif f plunging
vertically into the sea, owing its name to
the watchtower function it once had. The
dialogue between the ancient high hill
Marotta di Mondolfo (PU)
Porto San Giorgio (AP)
A view of Sibillini’s Mounts

18. Mount San Bartolo Regional Park (PU)

19. Mount Conero Regional Park (AN)

20. 18
Porto San Giorgio (AP)
Porto Sant’Elpidio (AP)
towns and the sea is well maintained in the
three southern settlements of the Marche
shores: Cupra Marittima with Marano,
Grottammare with Grottammare Alta
and San Benedetto del Tronto.
In ancient times, ships sailed from the
Marche to distant destinations justifying the
definition given to it by famous medievalist
J. Le Goff, “a real bridge to the East”.
Pesaro, Ancona and Senigallia were
important towns for European fairs. They
still continue to maintain traces of these
relationships on a large scale.
During the seventeenth century, as the
importance of deep-sea fishing increased,
an important economical and urban change
took place along the shores of the Marche
when the populations started to come down
from the hill settlements towards the vast
and sandy beaches. The fleets of fishing
boats of San Benedetto del Tronto,
Civitanova Marche, Ancona, Senigallia and
Fano still supply Italian markets with fish.
They even reach ocean to practice deep-sea
fishing along the African shores. This
however, is not the case, because in the
Museum of Art and Popular Traditions of
Rome, the most consistent group of model
Civitanova Marche (MC) sails – even 16 – comes from San

21. 19
S. Benedetto del Tronto (AP) Cupra Marittima (AP)
A view of Fermo seen from
Porto San Giorgio (AP)

22. 20
Fano (PU)
Mount San Bartolo
Regional Park (PU)
Benedetto del Tronto, a confirmation of the opportunity to enjoy the beauties of the
birth of an ancient civilization in which the nearby higher inland areas along with the
fishing economy and culture has been marine landscapes linked together in a
recorded and ennobled. Thoses interested perfect cocktail (as in the Regional Park of
in sea and maritime history can satisfy their Mount San Bartolo and Mount Conero)
curiosity at the Sea Museum in Pesaro, the with suggestive itineraries leading up to the
Marine Biology Museum in Fano, the “high hill and inland towns” to discover the
Amphora Museum, the Antiquarium many artistic, cultural historical gems of
Truentinum, the Museum of Fishing and this region.
Seafaring Civilization, the Fish Museum The great variety of landscapes is the
in San Benedetto del Tronto and the secret of the attractions of fered to the
Piceno Malacology Museum in Cupra tourist in the Marche. Here family oriented
Marittima, the largest museum in the world tourism mingles perfectly with youth
dedicated to the collection of shells. tourism, owing to the many structures
The regions beachside centers offer various catering to everyone’s wishes with every
water sports such as windsurfing, water possible type of facilities.The Marche are
skiing, sailing - with schools located in not one of mass tourism’s favourite
major towns - and underwater fishing, in destinations and this is certainly one of this
particular in Ancona, Vallugola, Portonovo, region’s greatest qualities, since it enables
Sirolo, Numana and Pedaso.The Marche region to offer an enriching human scale
are fully equipped to offer the visitor more experience within the surrounding of its
than just a bathing holiday, they give the well maintained natural environment.

23. Numana (AN)
Senigallia (AN)
Typical dishes:
In the gastronomic tradition of
the populations placed on the
coast of the Marche prevails
the fish and there is to choose
between soups, mixed grills,
fries, accompanied by well-
know valuables doc wines. The
well-known dish is the
brodetto.
There are many way to cook it:
the one of Ancona, of San
Benedetto del Tronto, of
Civitanova Marche, of Fano, of
Porto Recanati, of Porto San
Giorgio, etc. The difference is
not in the types of fishes used,
but in their different quality of
aromas, vegetables and
tomatos, which introduces
dominant characteristics of the
differents places of origin. We
should not forget the
stoccafisso of Ancona, which
offers one of the best italian
version.

25. San Benedetto del Tronto (AP)
Riviera del Conero (AN)
Macerata - Arena Sferisterio
National Park of the Sibillini
Mountains (Mount Palazzo Borghese)
Villa Potenza (MC) - Ruins of the
ancient Helvia Rìcina
Ascoli Piceno - The Quintain
The inland Marche
Genga (AN) - Frasassi Caves
Ancona - Cathedral of S.Ciriaco
Offida (AP) - “Tombolo”
Loreto (AN) - Piazza della Madonna
Urbino (PU) - Church of San Bernardino
Ascoli Piceno - “Capitano del Popolo”
Palace
Civitanova Marche (MC) - Port
Pesaro - Rossini Opera Festival

26. A B C D E F G H I L M
EMILIA-ROMAGNA GABICCE MARE
MILANO
1
GABICCE MONTE
RIMINI BOLOGNA VALLUGOLA
FIORENZUOLA DI FOCARA
RIMINI
SANTA MARINA ALTA
GRADARA
PESARO
58
.2
S.S
CESENA TALAMELLO SASSOFELTRIO TAVULLIA
S.LEO
2
NOVAFELTRIA MERCATINO CONCA
23
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SANT'AGATA FELTRIA MONTE GRIMANO S.S
MAIOLO MONTELABBATE
MADONNA DEL PONTE
TAVOLETO SANT'ANGELO IN LIZZOLA
METAURILIA
MONTECOPIOLO
MONTE CERIGNONE MONTECICCARDO TORRETTE DI FANO
AUDITORE
MONTECALVO IN FOGLIA
PENNABILLI COLBORDOLO
PIETRARUBBIA MACERATA FELTRIA MOMBAROCCIO
MAROTTA
3
PETRIANO
CASTELDELCI SASSOCORVARO CARTOCETO S. COSTANZO
CESANO
SALTARA
CARPEGNA SERRUNGARINA MONDOLFO
MONTEMAGGIORE AL M. A
14
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FRONTINO S.S PIAGGE
ISOLA DEL PIANO SENIGALLIA
URBINO MONTEFELCINO S. GIORGIO DI PESARO
LUNANO
MONTERADO
BELFORTE ALL'ISAURO MARZOCCA
PIANDIMELETO ORCIANO DI PESARO MONTEPORZIO
CASTELCOLONNA
PEGLIO FOSSOMBRONE SANT'IPPOLITO
4
SANSEPOLCRO MONDAVIO
RIPE MARINA DI MONTEMARCIANO
FERMIGNANO
TOSCANA BARCHI
0
. 36
BIS URBANIA CORINALDO
S.S. 73 FALCONARA M.MA
S.S
MONTEMARCIANO
PALOMBINA
BORGO PACE SANT'ANGELO IN VADO FRATTE ROSA TORRETTE
OSTRA
CHIARAVALLE
ACQUALAGNA CASTELLEONE DI SUASA MORRO D'ALBA
MERCATELLO
SUL METAURO S. LORENZO IN CAMPO OSTRA VETERE
MONTE S. VITO
BELVEDERE
LAMOLI 57 S. MARCELLO
.2 OSTRENSE
5
S.S BARBARA
424 CAMERATA PICENA
A
PIOBBICO MONSANO
S.S.
1
4
PERGOLA AGUGLIANO
SERRA DE' CONTI OFFAGNA
6
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JESI
APECCHIO CAGLI
S.S
MONTECAROTTO POLVERIGI
AREZZO
POGGIO S. MARCELLO OSIMO
FRONTONE ARCEVIA
S. MARIA NUOVA
6
CASTELPLANIO
CITTÀ DI CASTELLO
CASTELBELLINO
ROMA ROSORA MONTE ROBERTO
SERRA S. ABBONDIO CA
MAIOLATI SPONTINI
MERGO S.S
S. PAOLO DI JESI .3
CANTIANO CUPRAMONTANA 62 FILOTTRANO
SERRA S. QUIRICO
1
S.S. 36
STAFFOLO
GROTTE DI
SASSOFERRATO FRASASSI MONTEFAN
GENGA
7
APIRO
MONTEC
GUBBIO CINGOLI
PERUGIA APPIGNANO
ROMA POGGIO S. VICINO
S.S
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S.S. 77
FABRIANO
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UMBRIA 76 CERRETO D'ESI
TREIA
8
S.S.
2
S.S. 50
361
S.S.
GUBBIO POLLENZA
PERUGIA
ROMA ESANATOGLIA
MATELICA
S. SEVERINO MARCHE 7
GAGLIOLE .7
S.S
56 P
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S.S
URBISAGLIA
9
TOLENTINO
MOGL
CASTELRAIMONDO
LORO PICENO
PIORACO 1
. 36 COLMURANO
S.S SERRAPETRONA
FIUMINATA
BELFORTE DEL CHIENTI
RIPE S. GINESIO MONTAPPONE
CALDAROLA
CAMPOROTONDO DI FIASTRONE
CAMERINO MONTE VIDON CORRAD
SEFRO
S. GINESIO FALERO
10
CESSAPALOMBO
6
S.S. 25
SANT'ANGELO IN PO
6 SERVIGL
.7
S.S
PASSO NOCERA UMBRA MUCCIA GUALDO
PENNA S. GIOVANNI
DEL CORNELLO PIEVEBOVIGLIANA
SERRAVALLE DI CHIENTI
PIEVETORINA
MONTE S. MARTINO
SARNANO
FIASTRA S. VITTORIA IN MAT
11
FIORDIMONTE
ACQUACANINA
SMERILLO
MONTECAVALLO
LEGEND FOLIGNO BOLOGNOLA
AMANDOLA
ROMA
1 - Marinas
9
S.S. 20
COMUNA
USSITA
2 - Sandy beaches MONTEFORTINO
12
3 - Shingly beaches VISSO
MONTEMONACO
4 - Rocky and shingly beaches CASTELSANTANGELO SUL NERA
209
5 - Sandy and shingly beaches S.S.
ROCCAFLU
6 - Protected areas
HOW TO REACH TERNI MONTEGALLO
13
Motorways
Superhighways
MOTORWAY A14
National Roads RAILWAYS ARQUATA DEL TRONTO
ACQUASANTA
TERME
Other important roads Milano, Bologna, Ancona, Lecce,
Roma, Falconara M., Ancona LAZIO
14
State Railways
AIRPORT
ROMA
Shipping lines Raffaello Sanzio, Ancona/Falconara M.
Airport Milano - Roma - Pescara
PORT OF ANCONA
15
Croazia, Grecia, Turchia, Cipro, Israele
A B C D E F G H I L M