Grotte del Passetto

The basics

Most boat tours along the Ancona coastline include a cruise along the Grotte del Passetto to take in the charming jumble of caves, with their colorfully painted doors opening right onto the rocky beach or wooden platforms jutting out over the water. Pair a boat excursion with an Ancona city tour to admire highlights like the medieval cathedral and Church of Santa Maria della Piazza, Roman treasures such as the amphitheater and Arch of Trajan, and the Mole Vanvitelliana. You can also set sail before or after a culinary experience like a wine tour or market visit and home cooking class.

Things to know before you go

• Most of the Grotte del Passetto caves have long been converted to summertime outposts with a kitchen and sleeping space and are privately owned.

• With their cheery colors and mishmash of styles, the caves are a great subject for photographers. Keep in mind that most are private beach dwellings, so be respectful of residents.

• There is not much beachfront by the Grotte del Passetto. You’ll find chairs and umbrellas for rent and a small restaurant in the middle section of the grottoes, located beneath the Monumento ai Caduti war memorial. The stretch is also accessible via an elevator, the easiest way to go for families.

• The grottoes are set along a rocky, uneven coastline that is not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers.

How to get there

There are three main areas of grottoes, all of which can be reached on foot. The central stretch beneath the Monumento ai Caduti memorial is connected to the town above by steps and an elevator, while to the south there is another stretch of grottoes accessible from the Laghetti del Passetto public park. The most challenging to reach are the grottoes to the far north, set at the end of the Stradello Grotta Azzurra walking path.

When to get there

The Grotte del Passetto come to life in the summer, when local grottaroli (or grotto owners) use these former storage caves as seaside outposts for waterfront meals and overnights. The grottoes are especially picturesque in the evening, lit by hundreds of bulbs strung in front of the cave entrances.

Soaking in the sun at Passetto Beach

The Grotte del Passetto were dug out of the steep coastal cliffs near Ancona’s old town, and most don’t have much of a beachfront for swimming or relaxing. Passetto Beach is the exception, a stretch of pebble-covered waterfront set just along the city center just below the Monumento ai Caduti. Here visitors can rent beach chairs and umbrellas, dine at the waterfront restaurant, and admire the rock formation known as the Seggiola del Papa, or Pope’s Seat.