The ancient city of Ancona (from the ancient Greek “elbow”) was founded back in 390 BC. The settlement got its name due to the elbow-shaped cape protecting the area, forming a harbor, perfectly suitable for the development of a seaport. After almost two and a half centuries, due to its successful strategic location, the port city became a tasty morsel for Dalmatia, and fell to Caesar, becoming a Roman colony.
Already in the VII century, South Slavs settled here in considerable numbers, bringing their unique flavor to the atmosphere and architecture of the city. At various times, Ancona became the subject of encroachment by the throne of the Pope, the Republic of Venice, and the emperors of Germany, who periodically besieged the city, trying to subjugate the republic to themselves.
The ancient Roman amphitheater in Ancona Gep
Starting from the XV century, Ancona was replenished with Croats, Bosnians, and residents of Herzegovina who fled from the Ottoman yoke, who also contributed to architectural development and culture. Already in 1533, the settlement received several dozen Marranos (Jews), who, with the permission of the Pope, equipped their religious building – the synagogue.
During the time of Napoleon, Ancona became a republic, but after his defeat it returned to the Papal Throne, and since 1861 the city has become part of the Kingdom of Italy. The city is still under the protectorate of this state, developing as a major seaport, it is the capital of the Marche district and a tourist center.
Piazza del Plebiscito Staircase in Ancona Diego Baglieri
Numerous photos and descriptions of the sights of Ancona in Italy, reviews of tourists who have visited this picturesque and interesting place in all respects, do not leave indifferent travelers who seek to feel the absorbing aura of the city and see everything with their own eyes.
What is remarkable about Ancona
Given the rich historical past, there is a lot to see in Ancona. Architecture, museums, ancient temples and fortresses – all this, no doubt, will arouse the genuine interest of lovers of antiquity and seekers of new knowledge. The most popular places here are considered to be such as:
- The triumphal Arch of the Roman Emperor Trajan, erected at the beginning of the second century AD.;
The Arch of Emperor Trajan in Ancona MarkusMark
- The Museum of Italian, Greek, and Roman Antiquities of the Marche region; the Pinacoteca is the Greek equivalent of an art gallery containing more than a hundred works of the XIV-XVIII centuries; the Basilica of Loreto is a place of worship for numerous Christian pilgrims Santa Casa (Holy House) is a priceless shrine of Catholics, whose history began with the fact that St. Equal–to-the-Apostles Elena during a pilgrimage to Nazareth found a house in which the holy Spirit, who visited the Virgin Mary, preached to her about the miraculous birth of her son Jesus. The legend describes the repeated relocation of the house, which eventually ended up in its current location near Ancona. The basilica was built around it;
Basilica della Santa Casa in Ancona Carlo Raso
Official website: https://www.santuarioloreto.it
- The Lazaretto, or as it is also called the Mole Vanvitelliana, is a huge pentagonal island building that at one time served as the quarantine zone of the port. Over its long century, the unique structure has managed to visit a defensive citadel, a hospital, a factory that produced sugar and tobacco. Today, one part of it offers tourists various exhibitions, the other part of the building itself has become an exhibit, showing rooms where visitors used to be located, and warehouses where imported goods were stored. There is also an original museum of tactile sensations organized here – its exhibits can and even should be touched with your hands.
Mole Vanviteliana from Capodimonte in Ancona Claudio.stanco
There are also many attractions in the vicinity of Ancona in Italy, there are many architectural and historical monuments, museums, ancient temples and fortresses that will also be of interest to tourists.
Feel the atmosphere of Ancona in this beautiful video!
How to get there and where to stay
In the province of Marche and its capital, the travel infrastructure is well developed, including almost all types of vehicles:
- to move around the city, there are shuttle buses and traditionally comfortable and prompt round–the-clock taxis, you can use a rental bike; the airport accepts flights from the largest air carriers without problems. If necessary, you can use the air gates of Venice or Bologna; the railway – the Bologna – Lecce railway passes through the city, but tourists should take note that the station has two lines of tracks with the index 2, which can be confused unknowingly. Specify from which your train departs: from platform 2 or from platform 2Ovest; public transport – intercity bus service is organized in its bulk from Piazza Cavour. There are only two exceptions: buses depart from the railway station to Falconara and Portonovo; car rental is a profitable option for family travel enthusiasts, since the rental price is lower than the price for a train ticket per person. Staying in Ancona, you will not remain indifferent to the proximity of Tuscany and Florence, Venice and Rome, which will become even more accessible if you have a car at hand. You can arrange a rental right at the airport; sea ferry – this type of transport can be used when traveling to Greece, Croatia, Montenegro.
As for hotels to stay in, the choice is small, but the quality and wide price gradation will help you choose a place and service to your taste and purse. Perhaps the only drawback of living in the capital of the district is that vacationers will have to take a long time to get to the sandy beach. In addition to the fact that the city is located on rocky rocks, its coast is completely built up with port facilities and berths for numerous small-tonnage ships, boats and yachts. The only beach is a concrete platform, to which you need to go down the stairs. Lovers of the sea and the sun are advised to choose Torretta, Portonovo, Santa Maria di Badia or Senigallia and Gabicce Mare resorts located near Ancona.
Climate and weather conditions
The Mediterranean has a mild climate, which is typical for Ancona. Short-term summer rains rarely fall here, and the average daily temperature does not fall below 23 degrees Celsius. There is more precipitation in winter, but you will not see negative temperature values on the thermometer – the limit is 3-5 degrees Celsius. The season here lasts from May to September. Gardens are fragrant in spring, there are a lot of fruits in summer, and the velvet season traditionally pleases with warmth and sunshine before the dank winter, when the main annual precipitation limit falls. You can swim already in June, and the beach season ends in October, when summer water temperatures of 27-28 degrees drop to only 20-21.
Cooking, shopping, entertainment
Panorama of a summer beach holiday in Ancona by Andrea Passoni
As for Italian cuisine, there is hardly a person who has not tried pasta, pizza and risotto in his life. In Ancona, these and other various dishes with a local flavor will be offered by many cafes and restaurants at quite reasonable prices. The tastes of those who prefer other national cuisine to local food will also be satisfied, for example, sushi bars work. If desired, and most importantly, if possible, you can visit an elite institution with a claim to the status of visitors and gourmet cuisine.
Summer cafe in the ancient city of Ancona Javier Cuervo
Italians are especially sensitive to the manufacture and sale of wine products, but traditionally a wide selection of sweets and the famous Italian ice cream will please both children and adults.
The streets of the city are full of all kinds of shops and benches, on their shelves you can choose a souvenir that will remind you of the pleasant moments of the trip or will become a gift from a trip for friends or colleagues. There are plenty of things for lovers of handmade work to choose from, in some stores the owners open workshops in which visitors can independently make a memorable craft.
Trading from stalls on the square in Ancona teens4unity
Here you can also profitably buy clothes, shoes, cosmetics, walking through numerous boutiques, multi-brand stores and outlets. There are a number of grocery outlets that have a unique range of products produced in the Marche region. Read also about the sights of Puglia and be inspired to travel further in Italy.
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