Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, located 280 km northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic Sea. Although lacking the popularity and glamour of most Italian cities, it maintains its authenticity as the capital of the evergreen region of Le Marche; it is the largest port of Central Italy used mostly for passenger transfer, a treasure to be discovered.
The city is divided into two parts - the historic center on Monte Guasco and the modern part found on the coast. Among its principal monuments is the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, with its unique white and rose marble facade. The Cathedral dominates the city from the top of Guasco Hill, where the city’s Acropolis used to be and is an amalgam of Byzantine, Roman and Gothic architecture. The National Archaeological Museum of The Marches includes relics that date as far as the Iron Age. Worth visiting is the 11th-Century Church of Santa Maria della Piazza, the elaborate Trajan's Arch of the 2nd century, and the Mole Vanvitelliana, a military construction of the 18th Century. The Roman Amphitheatre, which dates back to the 1st Century A.D., includes thermal baths that feature breathtaking mosaics. Do not miss!
Much of the Province of Ancona is part of the Conero Regional Park, characterized by verdant forests and Mediterranean maquis, cliffs diving into the sea, stunning beaches and a pristine landscape rich in the local produce - lavender, honey, olive oil and citrus. Portonovo should be a must-see on the top of your list since it is a rare natural gem!
Ancona enjoys a prime location on the eastern coast of Italy, extending to the foothill of stunning Mount Conero and reaching down to the Adriatic Sea, creating a natural harbor. The Greeks from Syracuse established their colony there in 387 BC and named the city after the Greek "Ankon" which translates into "elbow", as the shape of the peninsula resembles a human elbow. Famous for its wine and also an important culinary destination, Ancona will exceed your expectations being reminiscent of glorious old Europe with evidence of Roman ruins and awe-evoking Renaissance Palazzi.
Marche is one of the twenty regions of Italy, located at its center. The region stretches for around 100 miles along the Adriatic coast. Marche is a relatively undiscovered land of Italy with respect to the better known Tuscany and other regions. Well known for its shoemaking tradition this place is a hidden gem!
The birthplace of the Roman Empire and Renaissance, Italy, showcases many of the world’s greatest artworks, architectural buildings and over the top gastronomical proposals. This is the country where the word “style” expresses the whole nation. Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country; among them are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Michelangelo’s David and Sistine Chapel and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
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