The Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean scrub, hilltop villages and ancient places of worship: the Conero area offers many different ways to experience a holiday. Starting from Sirolo, you can alternate days on the Park’s trails with cultural visits inland, following itineraries that reveal the history, art and spiritual heritage of the Marche region.
In this guide, we have collected 6 itineraries in Conero Regional Park and its surroundings: from Sirolo and Mount Conero to the underground caves of Camerano, the sanctuary of Loreto and the hills of Recanati.
Which itineraries should you choose in Conero Regional Park?
The itineraries in Conero Regional Park make it possible to combine nature, sea, villages and culture even during a short stay. The Park’s network includes 18 trails with different levels of difficulty and walking times. Among those accessible from Sirolo are, for example, the Sassi Neri Trail and the San Michele Beach Trail, while other routes cross the inland areas of the promontory. Before setting off, always check the current trail conditions and any access restrictions or ordinances.
If you are staying in Sirolo, here are six ideas for discovering this part of the Marche at different paces.
1. Sirolo and Mount Conero: village, woods and sea
The first itinerary starts right in Sirolo, one of the most striking places on the Riviera del Conero. Its historic centre preserves the layout of a medieval village and overlooks the landscape of Mount Conero and the Adriatic Sea.
From here, you can spend a day exploring the trails that descend towards the coast. The Sassi Neri Trail, a tourist trail of approximately 2.9 km and 45 minutes, passes through pine woodland and Mediterranean vegetation before reaching the beach of the same name. Another option is the San Michele Beach Trail, around 1.8 km long, which leads from the village through an Aleppo pine forest to the beach, with the possibility of continuing towards Grotta Urbani.
For a longer hike, you can choose the Pecorara Ring Trail, a route of approximately 6.7 km through woods, valleys and rural landscapes at the foot of Mount Conero.
The result is a day to enjoy without rushing, combining the charm of the village, the greenery of the Mediterranean scrub and beautiful views over the sea.
2. The Way of St Francis in the Ancona Marches
The Conero area has many different sides, from its natural landscapes to its spiritual heritage. Here you can discover the Franciscan history of the region by following the Way of St Francis in the Ancona Marches, which connects Ancona and Numana along a route of approximately 30 km divided into ten stages.
The route passes through places connected with the Franciscan tradition, linking Ancona, Varano, Camerano, Sirolo and Numana. Among its most significant stops are the Cathedral of San Ciriaco and the Church of San Francesco alle Scale in Ancona, the Church of San Francesco in Camerano and Villa Vetta Marina in Sirolo.
According to tradition, St Francis left the port of Ancona in 1219 on his way to the Holy Land and stopped in Sirolo. The story therefore combines religious heritage with the surrounding landscape: the sea, Mount Conero and the hills become part of an itinerary designed for walking, discovering the area and taking time to pause.
There is no need to complete the entire route in one go: you can choose individual stages and include them in your stay according to the time available.
3. Camerano and its caves: discovering the underground city
Just a few kilometres from Sirolo, Camerano offers a completely different experience. Here the journey continues beneath the streets of the historic centre, through a network of caves forming a veritable underground city.
The itinerary starts in Piazza Roma, home to the nineteenth-century theatre and Palazzo Manciforte. From here, you can reach the Church of San Francesco and continue towards the Church of Santa Faustina and the parish church, following the traces of Camerano’s artistic history and the painter Carlo Maratti.
The most unusual part of the visit, however, lies underground. The caves extend beneath the historic centre in a complex network of spaces carved into the rock, inspiring an old local saying that there is “more underneath than above.”
It is an ideal itinerary for seeing the Conero from a different perspective: after the open views of the mountain and sea, Camerano invites you to explore the hidden side of the area.
4. Loreto and the Basilica of the Holy House: a journey through the spiritual heritage of the Marche
We now head towards Loreto, one of the Marche region’s most important pilgrimage destinations.
The heart of the town is the Basilica of the Holy House, located in Piazza della Madonna. The sanctuary is home to the tradition of the Holy House of Nazareth and has attracted pilgrims and visitors for centuries. According to tradition, the House arrived here on 10 December 1294; over the following centuries, the site gradually developed into the great basilica complex we see today.
Loreto is a place to explore at a leisurely pace, taking time to appreciate the square, the basilica and the many artistic details that tell the long history of the sanctuary.
5. Recanati and the Hills of the Infinite
For the fifth of our itineraries in the Conero area, leave the sea behind for a few hours and head towards the hills inland. The destination is Recanati, a town deeply connected with the poet Giacomo Leopardi.
The itinerary suggested by Acanto starts at Palazzo Leopardi, in Piazza “Sabato del villaggio”, the poet’s birthplace. From here, the route leads towards Mount Tabor and the famous Colle dell’Infinito, one of the symbols of the town and of the landscape associated with Leopardi.
The itinerary then continues through the historic centre, passing the Church of Sant’Agostino, whose bell tower is associated with the verses of Il passero solitario, before reaching Piazza Leopardi and the Town Hall, home to the Beniamino Gigli Museum. The visit can continue towards the Cathedral, the Diocesan Museum and Villa Colloredo Mels, which also houses Lorenzo Lotto’s celebrated Annunciation.
It is a perfect day trip for those who enjoy combining landscape, literature, art and historic towns, while still experiencing the rural character of the Marche hills.
6. The Pecorara Ring Trail: woods, vineyards and rural landscapes
For the final itinerary, we return to the heart of Conero Regional Park, choosing a loop trail that reveals the quieter, more rural side of the promontory. This is the Pecorara Ring Trail, trail no. 315, approximately 6.7 km long and suitable for walking, horse riding or mountain biking.
The route starts at the former Massignano quarry and follows small roads and paths descending towards the Pecorara stream. The first section passes through a woodland of downy oaks before the landscape gradually changes: the trail runs alongside vineyards and olive groves, crosses small valleys and follows the greener areas around the streams. Further on, oak trees, a pine forest and cultivated fields appear as the route climbs back up along the Pecorara slope.
The variety of landscapes is one of the most appealing aspects of this itinerary. In the more open areas, broom, dog rose, Christ’s thorn, blackthorn and butcher’s broom grow among the vegetation, while numerous bird species and some of the Park’s typical mammals, such as foxes, badgers and weasels, find shelter in the woodland and riparian vegetation. The landscape changes continuously, moving from cultivated countryside to the wilder, shadier vegetation of the valleys.
Practical tips for planning itineraries in the Conero area
To plan a holiday dedicated to itineraries in Conero Regional Park, Sirolo is an excellent starting point. From here, you can alternate short hikes, days by the sea and excursions inland, easily reaching places such as Camerano, Loreto and Recanati.
Before setting off on a trail, always check its difficulty, duration, current conditions and any access restrictions. The Park’s official website provides information on length, walking time and difficulty for each route and also reports temporary closures.
For your hikes, bring water, suitable footwear and a hiking map. The Park also recommends using its trail network responsibly and respecting the environment and the signs along the routes. If you would rather explore the natural and cultural heritage of the Conero with a guide, you can enquire at the Sirolo Visitor Centre about guided tours and available experiences.
Where to stay green while exploring the Conero
If you want to explore the area from Sirolo, you can choose Acanto Country House Relais, surrounded by the greenery of the Riviera del Conero and approximately 3 km from Sirolo’s beaches. The property is located inside Conero Regional Park, along the Pecorara Ring Trail, and also offers bicycles for hire.
The relais occupies an old white-stone farmhouse typical of the Conero area and offers 2 standard rooms and 7 suites, as well as a saltwater pool with hydromassage, a private 10,000-square-metre park, a bar and more. The property follows numerous sustainable practices, including electricity from renewable sources, solar panels for hot water, ecological cleaning products, water recovery and reuse, flow reducers and a focus on local products.
A stay between sea, nature and culture
If you choose Sirolo as your base, the Conero area becomes a small map to explore day after day: a woodland trail can give way to an afternoon by the sea, a visit to the caves of Camerano to a day dedicated to the spiritual heritage of Loreto, while the hills around Recanati offer another perspective on the Marche landscape.
The itineraries in Conero Regional Park therefore make it possible to create a journey at your own pace, combining walking, art, villages and nature without straying too far from your starting point.
Acanto Country House Relais – Green Country House in Sirolo, Ancona, Marche, IT 
