Visit Ancona
Ancona is on the Adriatic coast of to the west of the Le Marche region of Italy. The town dates back to the 5th century BC, when Greek exiles from Syracuse (now part of Sicily) first established a settlement here.
It is a popular arrival point from the UK with flights to the nearby Falconara airport acting as a popular entry point for the marche region of Italy. It is also used as a ferry port for passengers to Greece and Croatia.
There aren't a huge number of things to see in the town, that was badly damaged during WWII, but it deserves an exploration if you are passing by - especially the older part of the town.
Set in a natural harbour, between the citadel on Monte Astagno and the cathedral on Monte Guasco, the highlights of the town include the Loggia dei Mercanti, a beautiful and elaborately decorated 15th century trading centre that escaped wartime damage, and the pretty Roman church of Santa Maria della Piazza, with its elaborate carvings.
Near Ancona harbour the 1,900 year old, 18 metre high, Trajan's Arch ('Arco di Traiano') is decorative and very well preserved (if a little lost among the activity of the port), and reminds us that the port was also important since Roman times.
The roman style cathedral of San Ciriaco is built on the site of a much more ancient temple and has an attractive understated facade - but note especially the ornate doorway. The church of San Francesco delle Scale is another notable monument in the town, while the 16th century fountain 'Fontana del Calamo' is another treat to discover with its 13 decorative carvings acting as waterspouts.
Art in Ancona
There is a good art gallery in Ancona (the Pinacoteca) , which contains works by Titian, Lotto, and others. Stepping back further in time the Archaeological Museum has interesting artefacts from both Greek and Roman periods of the town's history. You should also check if there are any interesting exhibitions at the 18th century Lazzaretto (aka Mole Vanvitelliana), the large pentagonal building (once a quarantine centre for arriving immigrants) at the southern edge of the harbour, during your visit.