Things to Do and See in Ancona

Ancona, the capital of the province of the same name, is located on the promontory of Monte Conero and overlooks the sea. It is a city of art with a historic center rich in monuments and a history stretching back a thousand years, beginning with the ancient Greeks who founded it. Heading down toward the port, you’ll find Trajan’s Triumphal Arch and arrive at the ruins of the Roman Amphitheater, with adjoining thermal baths where splendid mosaics bearing inscriptions are visible. For art lovers, in Piazza del Plebiscito, you can admire the Church of St. Dominic, which houses Titian’s “Crucifixion” and Guercino’s “Annunciation”; the Palazzo degli Anziani with its Baroque façade, now home to the University; the 16th-century Palazzo Ferretti, now home to the Archaeological Museum of the Marche; the “Francesco Podesti” Municipal Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. Elsewhere in the province, we recommend Chiaravalle, known for its famous abbey; Jesi, founded by the Umbrians, which was later inhabited by the Etruscans, the Senones Gauls, and the Romans; and the Rocca Roveresca in Senigallia, built on Roman foundations. Perched in a panoramic setting between the Cesano and Nevola valleys lies Corinaldo, the birthplace of Saint Maria Goretti, now a pilgrimage destination. Finally, nestled among the mountains are Fabriano, famous for its paper-making tradition; Osimo, rich in vestiges from the classical period; Castelfidardo; and Loreto, home to Italy’s largest Marian shrine.