Portonovo bay
Ancona, Italy
A white pebble bay under the wooded cliffs of Monte Conero, with a small Romanesque church by the sea. The access road is steep and parking scarce in summer, when shuttle buses run.
The bay of Portonovo lies at the foot of Monte Conero in the Conero Regional Park and is surrounded by cliffs up to 400 m high. It was formed by a prehistoric landslide, and the beach is made of white pebbles and flint fragments. The Romanesque church of Santa Maria stands on a cliff above the sea and is open only on certain days and at certain times. Behind the beach lie two brackish lakes, Lago Grande and Lago Profondo, which are good for birdwatching. Forest paths lead through the surrounding area, and the beaches fly the Blue Flag.
July and August are the busiest months; it is quieter in the morning, at midday on weekdays and in the late afternoon. In summer there are three paid car parks, two by the bay and one uphill with park-and-ride. If the lower ones are full, you are directed to the upper car park, from which a free shuttle runs to the village square (as of October 2026; arrangements may change).
- Nearest town
- Ancona, Italy
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 43.5620, 13.5930
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
.jpg){kind=link}
Nearby
© Terragio67 · CC BY-SA 4.0Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto
© Accurimbono · CC BY-SA 4.0Frasassi caves
© No machine-readable author provided. Lorenzo.ferrucci~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 2.5Lago di Fiastra
© VeveG86 · CC BY-SA 4.0Gola del Furlo
Campsites nearby
- Tobacco Road camping club SiroloCampsite5 km from Portonovo bayTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalNo dogs
- Area Sosta Camper SiroloMotorhome stopover5 km from Portonovo bayMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping Riviera VillageCampsite6 km from Portonovo bayTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping Village Conero AzzurroCampsite10 km from Portonovo bay · 38 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersNo dogsWi-Fi
- Camping AdriaticoCampsite12 km from Portonovo bay · 250 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Area Sosta Camper LoretoMotorhome stopover13 km from Portonovo bay · 40 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in Italy · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Portonovo bay?
Portonovo bay is in Ancona, Italy, at GPS 43.5620, 13.5930. It is about 5 km from Sirolo.
Can you camp near Portonovo bay?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Conero Camping, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 35 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Portonovo bay?
Portonovo bay is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Conero Riviera and the Frasassi caves.
What is there to see near Portonovo bay?
Places worth a stop nearby: Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto (14 km), Frasassi caves (54 km), Lago di Fiastra (67 km) and Gola del Furlo (70 km).
When is the best time to visit Portonovo bay?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)