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Conero - Photo (c) Paolo Marini
www.fotomarche.com
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Conero Regional Park
Mount Conero is the only relief (572 meters) overhanging the sea from Trieste to
Gargano, in symbiosis with the towns Ancona and Camerano, and with the sea
resorts of Sirolo and
Numana, it is the heart
of the homonymous Regional Park.
Established in 1987, but managed only since
1991, it is a nature sanctuary extending for 5800 hectares of protected area,
with places of great charm: the bay of Portonovo, the beach of the "due sorelle",
the northern view-point, Pian Grande, pian dei Raggetti... 18 hiking routes
developing among strawberry trees, brooms, ilex trees, pines, in the magic of
the Mediterranean maquis.
The area houses several species of birds, some of them very rare, together with
a rich fauna.
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The many plants making the Mediterranean maquis are here protected
and represent the third part of the whole floristic heritage of Marche. The
territory is also rich in artistic evidences:
Santa Maria di Portonovo,
San Pietro al Conero,
the Antiquarium on the Picenic civilization in Numana, and specific and very
interesting geological itineraries.
Points of Interest
Set in the green of the Mediterranean maquis and lapped by
the blue Adriatic Sea, the Church of Santa Maria di
Portonovo, built with the Conero spotless
stone, is a jewel of Romanesque architecture with features blending the
Greek cross with the shapes of the Latin basilica. It reminds us that in
1034 a Monastery was built in this wonderful place.
The Community of Monks extended its influence in a large area beyond the
Castles of Poggio, Camerano, Sirolo, and Numana.
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Photo (c) Paolo Marini
www.fotomarche.com
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Clementine Tower - Photo (c)
oRi0n.it
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Watchtower
In 1716 Pope Clemente XI entrusted
the building of the Watchtower in Portonovo; it is a
square building reminding of the 15th-century features and built with the
Conero stones and bricks, with a cover used for the
stationing of fire-arms. The garrison was useful to sight and stop the raids
of pirates and smugglers.
It became the shelter of the poet
Adolfo De Bosis; it was also frequented by Gabriele
D'Annuzio, and belongs now to his heirs. It houses nowadays cultural
initiatives and it can be visited by requesting it in advance.
Napoleonic Fortress
In 1808 the viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy,
Eugenio Behauharnais, entrusted the building, in
Portonovo bay, of a fortress to stop the landing of
the English boats. It was realized by using also the material recovered from
the ruins of the Monastery and of the bell tower attached to the Church of
Santa Maria.
After a period of neglect and ruin it
was rebuilt, respecting the ancient plan, and is today a prestigious tourist
structure. It can be visited by previous request.
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At the top of the Conero, among holm oaks and
strawberry trees, there is the Church of San Pietro with the monastery, which
has nowadays been transformed into a hotel. As a matter of fact, in the Middle
Ages the Conero became a place of hermitage and of religious Communities.
The Benedictine monks built two Churches: one
at its foot, San Benedetto, and the other one on the top, San Pietro.
The Church of San Pietro fell into ruin and was rebuilt by the
Camaldolese monks who settled there until 1861.
San Pietro still preserves the shapes and the
style of the ancient structure, white and tiny as the Romanesque style
wants.
Inside, a central nave with barrel vault and
cross vault; the columns and the pillars are adorned with decorated
capitals.
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Photo (c) Paolo Marini
www.fotomarche.com
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Numana - Photo (c) Paolo Marini
www.fotomarche.com
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Acanthus leaves, pine berries, and floral subjects are woven into
the stones.
Under the chorus is hidden the crypt where the relics were
preserved. The paths and avenues traced by the Monks can still be gone
through and lead to wonderful tours.
Ancient Picenic and then Roman center, its history is
largely documented in the Antiquarium and in the National Museum of
Ancona. Attic vessels, necklaces, fire-arms, and all
the precios things that were found in its necropolis - formed by almost
nine hundred graves - are on display in the Antiquarium and "tell" all the
evolutionary span of the Picenic civilization from the 7th century till the
Roman age.
The exhibition structure (Tel.
071/9330585) is open to the public in Via La Fenice 4, the entrance is free.
According to the tradition, the name Sirolo derives from "Sirio",
a medieval condottiere.
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He was given the place where Belisareio built the
castle after defeating the Goths in 560. Probably the area had already been
settled during the Roman period and depended on the Municipality of Umana
(today Numana). The small center, on the Conero
slopes, shows unexceptionable medieval evidences and is lit by unique marine
foreshortenings. It is the seat of the Consorzio Parco del Conero.
In Offagna, a small and wonderful
medieval municipality situated at a few kilometers from the Park area, the
Museum dedicated to the naturalist Luigi Paolucci has been
recently inaugurated.
It consists of seven halls where it is possible to study fluvial, coastal,
hilly, karstic, and mountain environments, together with the calcareous
gorges.
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Sirolo - Photo (c) Paolo Marini
www.fotomarche.com
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All the Marches, including the Conero, are mentioned and illustrated.
Courtesy of
Parco del Conero
Travel Italy
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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