Spiaggia Urbani: The Italian Beach Only Locals Know About

Every year thousands of visitors flock to Italy for its unrivaled combination of scenery and food, which is why areas such as Tuscany and Umbria have been on the grid for years. But if you’re looking to avoid crowds and get a true local experience, head to Sirolo’s Urbani beach.
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    The surrounding Adriatic Sea is sheltered and calm, perfect for a relaxing dip in the bay. Swim out farther to the cluster of protruding rocks for a little cliff jumping.

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    Urbani is a light gray, pebbled beach with a backdrop of limestone cliffs and pine trees. The atmosphere is classically Italian—laid back and full of local families, with an emphasis on eating well and taking things slowly.

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    Here are some tips to help you plan your day (or days) at Urbani:

    Getting there: The closest airport is Ancona Falconara Airport, which is about a 30-minute drive from Sirolo. It welcomes flights from London Stansted via Ryanair.

    When to visit: July and August is high summer, when you should be guaranteed good weather. July is the better month, as August is when most Italians are on holiday so the beaches will be busiest. June and September are quieter months, but you can still enjoy warm days then.

    What to wear: Women parade the beaches in elegant swimsuits paired with wide-brimmed straw hats and large sunglasses. For men, the uniform is almost strictly Speedos.

    What to read: A Room With a View by E. M Forster (1908). The book's heroine, Lucy Honeychurch, rejects her Victorian upbringing and falls in love while on holiday in Italy. It's a classic novel that is both romantic and funny, all while inspiring you to live la dolce vita.

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  • © Peter Adams Photography Ltd / Alamy

    The town of Sirolo is located in the Marche region on the eastern side of Italy, perfect for travelers looking for a more low-key slice of the country. Sirolo has seven featured beaches, some of which are only accessible by boat. But if you’re looking for picture-perfect cliff scenes with the added benefit of car access and seaside restaurants, head to Urbani beach.

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  • The main event of the day will be your beachside lunch in one of the few restaurants on Urbani beach. These simple and unfussy establishments serve fresh seafood dishes along with traditional pastas and Greek salads. Feast on grilled snapper, fritto misto, mussels in garlic with lemon, and juicy tomato salads. Like the food, the wine is cheap and plentiful, sourced locally from the Marche area and served in glass carafes. And, of course, no meal is complete without a strong Italian espresso to finish.

  • You can access the beach by stopping at one of Sirolo’s parking areas, then carefully navigating your way down the steep hills to the bay. On your way down, don’t miss the opportunity to pause at the strategically placed overlook platforms with stunning views of the coastline.

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  • There are also retro-looking changing rooms, each marked with a single letter, evoking images of an English seaside town from the 1950s.

  • Once you reach the beach, you’ll notice the blue and white striped sun beds lining up in uniform on the hard stones, paired with matching umbrellas.