ANCONA | MARCHES

Discover Ancona

Ancona is the capital of both the province and the region of Le Marche. The city is located in the shape of an amphitheatre on the hills surrounding the port, one of the most active on the central Adriatic.
The city of Ancona is sharply divided between the old and modern parts. The old city contains monuments of great artistic interest, among them Trajan’s Arch.
Exploring Ancona needs at least half a day; not to be missed are the churches of S. Maria della Piazza and S. Ciriaco, and the National Museum of Le Marche.

Ancona’s landscape is a gentle combination of sea, hills and mountains, offering the visitor a mixture of landscapes.
About 13 Km from Ancona is Portonovo, with views of sea and hills. Continuing towards Numana, also worth visiting, one reaches the Mount Conero area. Mount Conero includes both wooded zones and seacoast, stretching from Portonovo to Sirolo and Numana. The natural beauty of Mount Conero, still wonderfully intact, is exemplified by the Sassi Bianchi Beach, the Scoglio della Vela and the Faraglioni delle Due Sorelle.
Senigallia is certainly an important destination for anyone visiting the Ancona province. Among the most interesting monuments are the Rocca Roveresca war symbol, the neoclassical Foro Annonario, the Bavaria Palace, and the Rotonda, a resort building on the sea.
Ancona is also a province of ancient villages such as Cupramontana, with its masterpieces of the collegiate of S. Leonardo, or the old centre of Jesi where one can sample the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC wine.
Eighteen miles from Jesi, nestled in countryside dotted with rural churches, is the small village of Montecarotto, the producer of fine wines and cheeses. A charming legend leads us to Staffolo, where Bacchus is said to have discovered an excellent wine by observing how his sheep preferred some fruits to others. Bacco decided to squeeze the fruits the sheep preferred, obtaining a delicious drink.
Immersed in the hills is the small town di Morro d'Alba, which gives its name to a fruity flavoured wine.

Ancona offers some unmissable natural phenomena, such as the Regional Park of Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi. This is the largest protected area in the region of Le Marche: no less than 9167 hectares of exquisite scenery. The Regional Park of Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi contains the subterranean Frasassi Caves complex.