Some of the best beaches are in Le Marche, which has 180 kilometres of Adriatic coastline and some inviting resorts. There are eleven towns with blue flag beaches - among the largest number of any province in Italy. Some of the nicest I have visited are Numana, at the southern end of Monte Conero, and Porto San Giorgio and Grottamare further south. All resorts have a stretch of free public beach (spiaggia libera) but it's worth trying the pay sections which aren't that expensive, have all the facilities and provide the best opportunity to see Italians up close.