Sirolo overlooks the sea. It is the balcony of the Adriatic and the heart of the Parco del Conero. It boasts glorious beaches and charming bays and inlets. The historic centre has been meticulously refurbished and the original atmosphere restored. The small square, which is the heart of the town, is a regular meeting point for pre-dinner drinks in a panoramic setting overlooking the sea before moving on to taste the delicious meals prepared by local chefs or going to see a polished performance at the “Teatro Cortesi”. Handicraft markets and concerts by expert musicians in the “Chiesetta del Rosario” (a church) give a touch of colour and culture, livening up the evenings and nights.

Some historical background

Sirolo dates back to an extremely remote era, as proven by recent archaeological discoveries. Tradition has it that its name comes from Sirio, a leader who was given the place where the Belisario castle stands after defeating the Goths in 560. During the Roman times, the area was already inhabited and was annexed to the municipium of Umana. Around the 11th century, the Cortesi family fortified Sirolo.

Wine, gastronomy and other typical products

Local fish includes sea bream, sea perch, dassie, polyp, sole and above all, sea-bass. These types of fish are delicious boiled or barbecued. Other tasty dishes are “spaghetti allo scoglio” (pasta with fish sauce), “cozze alla tarantina” (mussels) and various “zuppe di pesce” (fish chowders). “Rosso Conero” is an excellent red wine made with grapes from local vineyards.


Archaeology

The Conero area is of major importance as regards the Picene civilisation. Many burial grounds had already been discovered a long time ago and a major necropolis, where graves had been strangely arranged in a circle, was recently found in the locality of I Pini di Sirolo. Among these graves, the Queen of Sirolo was discovered to have been buried with two carts in the 6th century B.C. Apart from kings and princes, the archaic Picene society was also made up of queens and princesses. The role of the men is shown by the weapons and rich outfits buried with them.

Monuments

The Abbey of “San Pietro al Conero”, the Church of the “Madonna of the Rosary”, “San Nicolò” Parish Church, the Medieval town walls with the Keep, the “Cortesi” Theatre, Villa Vetta marina, the old lanes and alleys of the historic centre.

BLUE FLAG

Every year since 1994, Sirolo has been awarded the “Bandiera Blu” (blue flag) by the Environmental Education Foundation. This is because it meets all the necessary requirements as regards the environment and tourism.  

“LE CAVE” THEATRE

This is an extraordinary place which functions nine months a year.
It is an abandoned quarry on Mount Conero which every year, in the month of June, becomes a fascinating theatre only to disappear in September.
It has a stage, seats, ticket office, dressing rooms, toilets and can hold up to 2,500 people.
This theatre is a uniquely, spellbinding scenario and is so beautiful that it attracts major Italian artists such as Corrado Pani and Carmelo Bene, Valeria Moriconi and Carla Fracci, Gigi Proietti, Beppe Grillo and Roberto Benigni, Giorgio Panariello and Fiorello, Lucio Dalla, Francesco De Gregori and Giovanni Allevi (just to mention some). Every year, the actors who come to perform here, honour the spirit of one of the greatest, Italian theatre directors, Franco Enriquez, who staged the last scene of his life in Sirolo.

THE PARCO DEL CONERO

La riviera del Coneroe il territorio del parco del Conero fondono in modo originale paesaggio collinare, urbano e costiero: aspetti pittoreschi della natura, monumenti artistici come la chiesa di Santa Maria di Portonovo e la badia di San Pietro, 18 percorsi escursionistici che si snodano tra corbezzoli, ginestre, lecci, pini, nella magia della macchia mediterranea. Numerose specie di fauna e flora, con esemplari rari e protetti.
The Riviera del Conero and the Parco del Conero are a special blend of hilly, urban and coastal landscape: picturesque natural scenery, artistic monuments such as the “Church of Santa Maria” at Portonovo and the “Abbey of San Pietro”, 18 excursion trails which wind through the Mediterranean maquis of wild strawberries, gorse, holly oaks and maritime pines.
The Regional Parco del Conero, instituted in April 1987, extends over 5,800 hectares and includes the stretch of high coast between the city of Ancona and the mouth of River Musone running through almost the whole territory of Sirolo.
CONSORZIO DEL PARCO DEL CONERO
Via Peschiera, 30 60020 Sirolo (AN)
Phone: 071.933.18.79
Fax: 071.933.03.76
Website: www.parks.it/parco.conero