A walk along the limestone slope of the Riviera del Conero. With a breathtaking viewpoint as a treat.

High above sea level, a dazzling panorama unfolds over an enclosed bay, with the two rocks rising out of the water (called Due Sorelle).

These sisters are at the viewpoint at le due sorelle

We would love to take you hiking on Monte Conero. Hiking shoes on and remember a bottle of water too. Will you join us?

Together with our 2 youngest daughters, Neeltje and Emma (Our eldest (Roos) was unfortunately indisposed) who stayed with us for a short week in early October, the four of us recently hiked the 'Passo del Lupo' on the limestone slopes of Monte Conoro.  

(See here the map we offer to our guests, we have marked the route)

A walk of almost 1 hour there and 1 hour back. We perhaps stopped a bit more often to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Which, of course, we definitely recommend you too! We walked in a circle. Only the bit to the viewpoint we went along the same path.

We parked our car a little outside Sirolo in the paid car park of the Sirolo cemetery (where we immediately took a look. Always fascinating. Especially those family graves are worth a visit)

Our route is number 302. This is one of no less than 18 well-signposted walking routes on Monte Conero. We walked in front of the cemetery and followed the little road that slopes uphill. Immediately you enter a forest with lots of Mediterranean herbs and special tree species, such as the strawberry tree. But also ancient olive trees, pine trees, cypresses and cedars. Between the Pinis (Italian umbrella pine trees) you see the undulating hinterland, with dreamy little hamlets and houses on wide fields in that typical patchwork landscape of le Marche.

The wide path leads first along the eastern side where we pass a couple of magnificent mansions. Each of them has impressive views over the azure sea and the imposing coastline. You can see Sirolo with Numana behind it and the beaches of Porto Recanati and Civitanova Marche from here.

At the 'forbidden access' sign, we walk into the path on the left which is ascending. The signpost indicates that it is a 20-minute walk from here to the viewpoint. Pretty weird that the trail leads over a walking ban. Anyway. So be it.

The wide path slowly narrows, the abyss slowly deepens. But still very doable. Although you should not suffer too much from vertigo. At the end it is still a narrow path where you occasionally have to let oncoming cars pass on the slightly wider parts.

Eventually, we ended up at the breathtaking viewpoint on the Due Rorelle. Our 2 daughters, the 2 sisters Neeltje and Emma, make a nice contrast and, like us, found it beautiful and spectacular. This place is not busy at all in October, but lovers of a nice photo with this vista can always be found!

After taking some photos and taking in the breathtaking scenery, we return via the same path. After 1.5 km we come to a fork. Here we follow walking route 301 leading to Sirolo. We walk through an open iron gate and continue on the path which descends slowly, and later, when we are almost at the car park, has some tough climbs in store.

We drove our car to Sirolo. Which is also very walkable (800m), to treat ourselves to a nice cold beer there.

What also definitely comes highly recommended is lunch at Terrazzamare in Sirolo. A beautiful seafood restaurant with fantastic views.

The tables were neatly set with white table linen and stylish crockery.

We enjoyed a delicious fish/pasta dish prepared for us by chef Riccardo Possanzini. With a cold glass of white Pecorino, it just got even better. After all, fish has to swim!