From Porto Recanati to Comacchio along the Salt Route

From Porto Recanati, made famous in the operas of Giacomo Leopardi, you will sail in the direction of the Conero Park, passing through Numana. After a mile, you will come to Sirolo, a beautiful village with enchanting beaches that introduces you to the Conero Natural Park. Sail in the direction of the bay of Portonovo, skirting up to the faraglioni delle Due Sorelle, an ideal sea area famous for moscioli, a typical reef quality of mussels, not to be missed.

After passing the Conero, head towards Ancona, called the "city of two sunsets" for its angled position. In the past, it was a Maritime Republic that gave Venice a twist, and the city is worth a visit to admire the testimonies of its glorious history, discovering, in particular, the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, the Vanvitelliana Mole and the Arch of Trajan.

Back on board, return to the sea towards Fano. On the left, you will leave Senigallia and its famous beach with the Rotonda sul Mare. Fano is 34 miles away. Arriving at the Marina dei Cesari, enjoy a walk within the city walls from Roman times. Don't miss a visit to the caves of Vitruvius and try the moretta, the fishermen's coffee, prepared with sugar, anise and lemon peel.

Leaving Fano, return to Pesaro, the hometown of the great composer of "The Barber of Seville", Gioacchino Rossini. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the beautiful Urbino, a Renaissance city just 30 kilometres from the coast. Then return to Rimini, passing the well-known maritime resorts of Gabicce, Cattolica and Riccione. The historic centre of Rimini preserves the memory of its most illustrious son in contemporary times, Federico Fellini, but also proudly preserves the testimonies of the oldest riches, such as a Roman domus, the Bridge of Tiberius, the Arch of Augustus and the Malatesta Temple.

If you continue the journey to Ravenna, the obligatory stop is in Cesenatico, with the characteristic and spectacular harbour-channel, designed by the undisputed genius of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, you will find the typical Adriatic fishing boats, the bragozzi and the trabaccoli. Ancient boats are kept at the Museo della Marineria. A little further up, you will come across Cervia, a delightful town with a green pine forest on the beach, which gives a precious freshness to bathers, and the historic salt pans, from which the sweet salt of Cervia is still obtained. If the sirocco helps, you will be in Marina di Ravenna in less than two hours. Moor at the marina of Marinara and head for the historic centre of Ravenna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the mausoleums of Theodoric and Galla Placidia, the famous mosaics, the churches of San Vitale and Sant'Apollinare in Classe, the tomb of Dante Alighieri.

Set off again heading for Porto Garibaldi. About 12 miles later, you'll be in the Po Delta Park, skirting swampy areas populated by flamingoes. This is where Garibaldi landed, pursued by the papal fleet. This place is also known as Magnavacca, from the Latin magnum vacuum, large void, which describes the depression of the Valleys of Comacchio. Once in Comacchio, you'll be delighted by the colourful houses along the canals. On the coast, there are the 7 Lidi di Comacchio, well-known seaside resorts, also known for some tourist-cultural places, such as the necropolis of Spina, the Abbey of Pomposa or the Boscone della Mesola. When sailing along the river, or taking the land route, you can reach nearby Ferrara, with its Renaissance wonders.