Ancona Riviera del Conero: Hiking Tour

Embark on a half-day trekking tour of the Conero Natural Reserve from Sirolo accompanied by a local guide. Travel through verdant forests, see rock engravings that date back to the Stone Age, and purchase a local lunch and/or a tasting of wines and olive oils along the way.

Meet your guide in front of the Badia di San Pietro church and embark on your adventure on the Conero mountain which reaches a towering height of 572 meters. Take in the lush natural beauty of the park which contains 6000 hectares of the protected area.

Keep an eye out for local wildlife and plant life, as the park has 1/3 of the floristic heritage of the Marche region. Conero has been inhabited since the Paleolithic times and see traces of this vast past along the route, including a slab of limestone with engravings which dates back to the Stone Age.

Learn about how the area was important both to sailors and local tribes. Hear about how the Greeks, Romans and Piceni walked on Conero. See a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture at the white-stone St. Peter's Church which was once popular with pilgrims.

Walk along a pat that avoids the strain of going up steep hills to ensure effortless enjoyment of the stunning Portonovo landscapes. Capture pictures at the Pian Raggetti viewpoint which opens up to the hinterland and the south coast of Conero.

Step onto a natural balcony above Portonovo Bay at Pian Grande for views that stretch to Ancona. Admire Montepulciano vineyards which are used to craft Rosso Conero wines. Stop on the top of the mountain where you can stop to taste grilled meat or fish and some Rosso Conero (at extra cost).

Visit the Enoteca wine shop where you can purchase and sample wines and olive oil before returning to your meeting point.

If you wish to include a visit to a winery or taste local products in your tour, I recommend informing the guide in advance.