Can you reach the beach by car?

No. Access is only on foot via a steep path descending from the village, with elevation of around 200 metres.

How long does it take to get to the beach?

20-30 minutes down, 40-60 minutes up.

Are there services on the beach?

No. No lido, no bar, no public toilet, no lifeguard. Bring everything with you and take your rubbish home.

Is the beach suitable for children?

No, not particularly. Demanding access, steep seabed, submerged rocks, isolation. For families Vallugola and Gabicce Mare are more suitable.

What is the Devil's Peak?

A rocky spur that rises from the sea at the foot of the Casteldimezzo cliff. Popular tradition associates it with a gathering of witches on the night between 30 April and 1 May.

Can you snorkel at Casteldimezzo?

Yes, and it is the main reason the beach is worth the climb. The rocky seabed, water clarity and the proximity of the Devil's Peak give very good observation conditions on days of calm sea.

Where does the path to the beach start?

From the southern side of the village of Casteldimezzo, near the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix. Park at the village entrance along the SP 44 Panoramica.

Is there a shuttle like at Fiorenzuola?

No. At Casteldimezzo access is only on foot, throughout the season.

When is the best time to visit?

For swimming, mid-June to mid-September. For maximum isolation, May, late September and October. In any case, arrive in the morning to tackle the climb back at cooler temperatures.

Casteldimezzo beach: the hidden cove of the park

The most hidden cove of the San Bartolo Park

Casteldimezzo beach is the smallest and most isolated of the Monte San Bartolo Park beaches. It is a pebble cove below the medieval village of the same name, a hamlet of the municipality of Pesaro, reachable only on foot via a steep path in the cliff.

The demanding access and total absence of services make it a destination not for casual visits: those who come this far are after isolation, snorkelling over rocky seabeds and a natural contact with the park's coast. Even in full high season, numbers stay very low.

Who this beach is for (and who not)

It's the right beach if you're after a stretch of coast with no one else, even in August. If you're interested in snorkelling over rocky seabeds with good visibility. If you want to combine a medieval village visit with a descent to the sea. If you are a strong swimmer and accept the absence of cover.

It's not the right beach if you are with small children, if you don't feel up to tackling 200 metres of elevation back up at the end, if you need services (toilets, bar), if you want a comfortable day at the seaside. In those cases head for Vallugola or Gabicce Mare.

How to get there

Access is foot only. There are no roads reaching the beach, and there is no shuttle service.

Starting point

Park at the entrance to the village of Casteldimezzo, along the SP 44 Panoramica Adriatica. Cross the village on foot to its southern part, near the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix, from which the descent starts.

The path

Elevation: around 200 metres
Time down: 20-30 minutes
Time up: 40-60 minutes
Surface: unpaved, slippery in places after rain
Marking: not formally CAI, but traced and well-trodden by use
Footwear: light walking shoes or sports shoes with rubber sole; beach footwear is not suitable

Water for the climb back

Especially on hot days, carry at least a litre per person for the climb back alone, on top of the reserve for the stay on the beach. There is no refill on the beach.

Snorkelling and swimming

Snorkelling is the beach's strength. The presence of submerged rocks, the water clarity (over 4 metres visibility in optimal conditions) and the proximity of the Devil's Peak (a rocky spur emerging from the sea) provide a quality underwater area.

For standard swimming, the warnings common to the park's wild beaches apply:

The seabed drops fast and contains submerged rocks
There is no lifeguard
The isolation makes intervention difficult in case of need

For families with small children, the combination of demanding access, steep seabed and submerged rocks makes the beach not advised.

The Devil's Peak

A short distance from the beach, the Devil's Peak rises from the sea, a rocky spur of distinctive shape visible both from the beach and from the village belvedere. Popular tradition associates it with a gathering of witches on the night between 30 April and 1 May.

Beyond the folkloric element, the Peak is one of the most recognisable features of the San Bartolo coast and a reference for landscape photography of the beach.

What to bring

Water: at least a litre for the climb back, plus a reserve for the stay
Light walking shoes for the descent, wearable over reef shoes for the beach
Reef shoes for pebbles and water entry
Mask and snorkel, since snorkelling is the main reason the climb is worthwhile
Sunscreen and hat, the natural shade only arrives in the late afternoon
Rubbish bags: take home everything you bring
Light food for the stay
Large towel preferable to mats

When to go

High season (July-August). Numbers up on the past but always very low because of the difficulty of access. Sea generally warm.

May, June, September, October. The ideal months for those seeking total isolation. Sea still pleasant on good days, temperatures more favourable for the climb back.

Best times. Early morning for frontal light on the beach and for the climb back at cooler temperatures. Avoid the climb back in the central hours of the hottest months.

Combine with a village visit

A visit to Casteldimezzo beach pairs naturally with a visit to the medieval village: the Sanctuary of the Crucifix, the walls, the surviving tower, the belvedere. For those tackling the half-day at the beach, lunch at the panoramic restaurants of Casteldimezzo or Gabicce Monte is the recommended ending.

Casteldimezzo beach