Between Ancona and Portonovo lay two wide and stunningly wild beaches. With more then two kilometers of white sand bordered by the green forest sheer dropping into the bay, they are possibly the most beautiful beaches of the whole Conero Riviera.
Aside from a bar-restaurant and some toilet facilities, these beaches are totally free from the usual services one would find on a typical beach resort, therefore suit particularly those who love untouched environments.
This dreamlike bay is not exactly easy to reach: two steep downhill paths will take you to the beach in about 10-20 minutes but make sure to wear suitable shoes with a good grip. If you chose to arrive by boat, be aware that it is not permitted to shore, so a kayak or any other type of unpowered craft will be necessary. People with reduced mobility might not be able to get there unless willing to use, again, some kind of non-motorised dinghy.
"Il Trave" is a long and rather flat rock which stretches out into the water for about one kilometer providing a sort of natural pier on the northern side of Mezzavalle. It is a traditional spot for mussels divers who come here to take the renewed "Mosciolo of Portonovo" a particular kind of wild local mussel who gained the title of Slow Food Presidium.
Type of beach
White sand, cobble, pebbles, gravel.
How to get there
By car: take the "Strada Provinciale del Conero" direction Portonovo and leave the car in one of the parking places situated near the roundabout leading to Portonovo. Free parking along the road is not permitted and you are very much likely to get a fine. There two paths going down to the beach: the one near the roundabout is shorter but much steeper and rather slippery, the other is a few hundred meters northern, takes double time but it is not as steep as the other.
GPS: geographic coordinates 43° 33' 50'' N 13° 34' 36'' E
By bus: summer bus line 94 connects Ancona to Portonovo, ask the driver to stop at Mezzavalle. Then be ready to walk down the hill for 10-20 minutes depending on which path you choose. For timetable see this link.
More info:
Tourist Information Office - Ancona
Via Gramsci, 2A
Tel (+39) 320 019 6321
Tourist Department, Municipality of Ancona
Via Podesti, 21
Tel (+39) 071 222 5065/5066/5067
Off-road paths info (only in Italian): www.fabiofava.it/sentieri/sentieri.htm