Ancona city in Italy: attractions, beaches, how to get

Ancona is a city on the west coast of the Adriatic Sea in Italy, the provincial capital of Marche and a major international port. It is from Ancona that ferries run to neighboring Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Turkey and Albania. About a million tourists visit this small town annually.

However, Ancona is not only a port city. It also has wonderful historical sights in the center, and wonderful beaches, both for diving enthusiasts and families with children, and excellent fish cuisine. And the proximity of Ancona from Bologna, Florence and Venice will allow you to easily diversify your beach holiday.

How to get to Ancona in Italy

Ancona has its own Falconara international airport, 12 km from the city, but direct passenger flights from Russia and Ukraine do not fly here yet. The nearest airport is in Rimini, from where the way to Ancona takes an hour and a half.

Find tickets to Rimini in the form below. A little further are the airports of Venice and Bologna.

From Rimini, Ancona can be reached by train from the Stazione di Rimini train station (Ancona Centrale terminus). Trains run regularly at short intervals.

However, we would advise renting a car at the airport. The car gives more flexibility and opportunities, you can easily move between cities and towns of Italy, without waiting for public transport. Often, renting a car is cheaper than numerous train crossings. For those who plan to rent a car, we recommend reading the article "Car rental in Italy: everything you need to know when booking a car."

By car from Rimini you need to move along the A14 Bologna-Taranto highway. This track is paid. There is a free and more pleasant alternative - the SS16 route, which stretches right along the coast.

Ancona Hotels

There are not many hotels in Ancona, but all of them will please with good service and reasonable prices. One of the best in Ancon can be considered hotels:

• Ego Hotel

• SeePort Hotel

You can also choose a suitable hotel depending on your preferences using the link below.

However, if after all a visit to Ancona is associated with a vacation at sea, we recommend staying in the neighboring resort towns of Portonovo, Sirolo or Numan. Here, great beaches and resort hotels are located right on the coast.

Ancona beaches

Due to the proximity of the port and the railway, the center of Ancona is not a very attractive place for a beach holiday, it is better to go to the outskirts or to neighboring towns, where the sea is cleaner and the beach infrastructure is better.

On the northern outskirts of the city lies the beautiful Palombina Beach. The sea is shallow, warms up well, the coast is covered with sand. The beach is ideal for families with children. You can get here by suburban buses heading north.

Another famous city beach is Passeto. It is surrounded by rocks and reefs, here are the famous "Square Reef" and "Throne of the Pope." Passeto Beach is more often chosen by diving and diving enthusiasts.

But perhaps the most beautiful beach of Ancona is Three Sisters. It is located 20 km from the city, and you can get there only by water. For many years, this beach is on the list of the best Italian beaches.

Attractions Ancona

Residents are very sensitive to their cultural and historical heritage, preserving and enhancing it. In Ancona, a mass of historical sights has been preserved, despite the fact that many of them were badly damaged during the bombing of World War II.

On a note. Instructions on how to download any card from the Internet and use it offline

The oldest buildings

The city was founded by the Dorians, who sailed here from the Greek Syracuse. However, almost nothing was left in memory of the Greeks being here. About two centuries later, the Roman fleet moored at Ancon harbor.

Arch of Trajan in Ancona (Italy)

Roman rule dates back to the heyday of the city. It was then that the Roman emperor Traian significantly expanded the port, making it the most important naval hub on the entire Adriatic coast. In memory of this event in 115 AD in the city was installed Triumphal Arch of Trajan, which has been preserved almost unchanged to this day. Now it is one of Ancona's most visited attractions.

The Roman amphitheater seats up to 10 thousand spectators

In memory of the Romans in Ancona, the traditional for the beginning of a new era has been preserved roman amphitheateraccommodating up to 10 thousand spectators. Nearby archaeologists have discovered the remains of ancient Roman terms.

Middle Ages

The era of the Middle Ages is a mixture of harsh Gothic and Romanesque style. In memory of this era, several structures remained in Ancona. It:

Judah Kyriak Cathedral, built back in the X century. on the site of the early Christian church of St. Lawrence. The building is unique in its architecture, here Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic styles are organically intertwined. At the entrance of the cathedral, two pink marble lions guard the symbol of Ancona; inside, the miraculous image of the Madonna by Luigi Vanvitelli has been preserved.

Cathedral of St. Jude Kyriac

one of the oldest Romanesque churches Santa Maria della Piazza built on the site of the early Christian basilica at the turn of the XI-XII centuries. Currently, the church building hosts concert events.

Church of Santa Maria della Piazza

senate palace Built in 1225, used for a meeting of senators. Earlier on the site of the Senate palace was the ancient Roman forum;
palace of elders, built in 1270. It is from here until the XVI century. city management was carried out;

Palace of Elders in Ancona

loggia of merchants the middle of the 15th century, where merchants sailing to Ancona sat;
Ferretti palace, built in the XVI century. as a family estate. Now within the walls of the palace is another local attraction - Archaeological Museum of the Marche Region with a rich collection of archaeological artifacts. The museum is considered one of the best such collections in Italy;

If you drink water from the fountain of Kalamo, you will certainly return to Ancona

fountain of calamo. The source of water at this place was built in the Greek period, but in the XVI century. it was destroyed and about half a century later recreated according to the sketches of Pillegrino Tybaldi. There is a belief that if you drink water from this fountain before you leave, you will certainly return to Ancona again.

Legacy of the popes

In the XVI-XVIII centuries. papal power strengthened in Ancona. It was at that time that numerous Catholic cathedrals and churches were erected, which became local attractions, including church of st. Dominica 1763 built church of st. Francesco it was erected in the XIV century, but acquired its final appearance only in 1790, Holy Communion Churchrebuilt in baroque style in 1776 and church of st. Pilgrin and Theresa 1706 built.

Monument to Clement VII on Pope Square

In honor of the Roman Pope Pius VI in the 1780s, Ancona was established Triumphal Arch of Pius, and in memory of the reign of Pope Clement remained papa square with a monument and formidable citadel on the hill of Astagno.

Ancona Citadel

The latter, by the way, “lit up” in Russian history, when the Russian squadron in 1799, at the request of the Austrian emperor Franz II, tried to drive the French troops out of Ancona. This event entered the military history of Russia under the name of the Ankon expedition. A picturesque park is now set next to the citadel, and the military fortress itself is considered the highest point of the city of Ancona in Italy.

The old lighthouse now serves as an excellent viewing platform.

Speaking of viewing points. In the XIX century. a lighthouse was built on the top of the Capuchin hill. For its intended purpose old lighthouse is no longer used, but from its top, located at an altitude of 105 m above sea level and attracting many tourists, it offers impressive views of the sea bay.

Mole Vanvitelliana has long been used as a hospital

In the XVIII century. in the port bay of Ancona in Italy, another famous city landmark appeared - Mole Vanvitelliana or Infirmary. Initially, this pentagonal structure on an improvised island right in the bay served as a quarantine zone. To avoid an epidemic in the city, all travelers who arrived from the east were quarantined here. Later it housed a prison, hospital and even a sugar factory. Now - exhibitions, festivals and other public events are taking place.

Museums in Ancona

This coastal town is rich in interesting museums. If an extra day appears, we advise you to definitely look here.

Archaeological Museum of Ancona - one of the best such museums in Italy

In addition to the Archaeological Museum, which Blogoitaliano already mentioned in passing above, in Ancona are worth a visit:

City Museumintroducing the history of the city. The museum is located in Papa Square;
Diocesan Museum at the cathedral, which collected church relics of the city, starting from the early Christian era;
Pinacoteca Francesco - the famous Italian artist and native of Ancona XIX century. It was Podesti that laid the foundation for the collection of paintings in the city pinakothek.

Pinakothek Podode in Ancona

What to try from local cuisine?

The cuisine of the Marche region is mainly connected with the sea, and this is not surprising, because the city is washed by the sea from three sides.

Ancona-style brodetto is one of the popular local dishes

We recommend trying out Ancona brodetto from local delicacies - a traditional dish of several types of fish and seafood, grilled Ancona dorado, traditional monkfish with beans, stuffed Ascolan olives with meat, fish or vegetables, as well as traditional soft sausages Chauskolo.

Stuffed Olives - Traditional Marche Cuisine

And, of course, do not forget about the famous aniseed liquor "Anisetta", produced only in the Marche region. By tradition, a glass of liquor is drunk after a meal, sometimes added to a cup of coffee.