Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world receive hospitable sunny Italy. Ancona is one of the most calm and quiet resorts in the country, located in the province of Marche. People come here in search of peace, tranquility, beautiful nature, warm sea, and the port city gives them all this. In Ancona there is no large concentration of tourists, sellers do not scream excitedly, luring visitors into their souvenir shops, no one bothers with camera flashes. The resort attracts with its peaceful atmosphere. This is a wonderful place for lovers of a relaxing holiday, including an overview of attractions, swimming in the sea, familiarity with local traditions.
History of the city
A centuries-long difficult history has both Greece and its neighbor Italy. Ancona was founded in 390 BC. e., although this is an approximate date. Initially, the city belonged to the Greeks, who called it "elbow" because of the cape of unusual shape. Merchants established a purple factory here. In 178 BC e. Ancona passed to the Romans, its harbor was eventually expanded by Roman rulers, as it was of great strategic importance to the empire.
In the Middle Ages, the port proclaimed itself an independent republic. The emperors of Germany, the Roman Church, the Venetian Republic fought for the right to possess it . In 1532, the authority of the Pope was established in Ancon; during the time of Napoleon, the port again became a republic for a short time. In 1860, the city finally became part of the Italian Kingdom.
How to get to Ancona?
The port is located in a very convenient location, so you can get to it by sea, air and land. Only 12 km from the city is the airport. Ancona (Italy) recently carried out its expansion, so Falconara accepts flights from major European cities, many popular airlines fly here. The port is located on the Bologna-Lecce railway line, so you can also get here by train. Most international buses leave from Piazza Cavour Square. The A4 motorway passes through Ancona, leading to Bari and Bologna, and there is also a highway connecting the port with Rome and Perugia. Therefore, it is very convenient to travel by car. Almost a million tourists annually use the port to get to Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro.
Ancona Hotels
The town cannot boast of a huge number of hotels, but there will be plenty to choose from, for sure. Italy offers a very scrupulous approach to the service offered. Ancona provides quality housing for any budget. Of course, hotels located near the coast offer more expensive rooms. Very popular, for example, G Hotel, Hotel Monteconero, Hotel Emilia, Grand Hotel Palace, Hotel Fortuna, Hotel Palace Del Conero.
City beaches
Italy is famous for its very beautiful, well-equipped coasts. The city of Ancona is surrounded by beaches on all sides, each traveler will be able to find the most suitable option for himself. The most popular is Passetto, located in the center and surrounded by bizarre forms of reefs and rocks. It is here that the famous “Papal Throne” is located, as well as the “Square Reef”, which Ancona is so proud of. The beaches on the north coast are great for couples with small children. “Palombina”, Spiaggia di Velluto are famous for shallow water, which is very convenient for caring parents with kids. The northern shore is sandy, gently sloping, well-equipped, therefore it is very popular among travelers.
Ancona Hills
The city is located on a hilly area, alternating with valleys. Therefore, there are a lot of interesting places, natural, historical and architectural attractions. A line of hills stretches out to the sea from the north side. Here is Mount Cardeto with the park of the same name, numerous fortifications. On this line are the hills of the Capuchins (with a lighthouse) and Guasco (with the Duomo). In the south you can see Astagno with a towering fortress and five bastions built in the 16th century. Ancient buildings are buried in verdure, which gives them even more charm and mystery.
On the southern hill of Santo Stefano is the Pinchio Park, which is interesting in that all its paths and sites have the correct geometric shape. A huge number of evergreen trees grow here. Santo Stefano also has an impressive view of the port. Mount Pelago attracts astronomical observatory located on it. On the Pulito is the Admiralty. On Mount Santa Margarita lies the magnificent Passetto Park, and on its northern slopes there is a convenient path leading to the sea and a swimming pool.
The main attractions
The city is conditionally divided into two parts, one is old historical, and the other is more modern. Ancona (Italy) attractions has a variety of eras. Of greatest interest are the amphitheater and arch of Trajan, preserved from the time of the Roman Empire to the present day. The arch was installed in honor of Emperor Trajan in 115, at the same time the port of Ancona was expanded, it began to be used as a parking lot for Roman warships. The structure is 14 meters high built of Greek marble. Initially, the arch was decorated with three statues and an ornament made of gilded bronze, but to this day they have not been preserved.
At an altitude of 50 m above sea level, between the hills of Cappuccini and Guasco, the most important building of the Roman era is located. The amphitheater accommodated about 10,000 spectators, who were located in three sectors, on 20 rows. The construction was erected in the 1st century BC. e., and was completed in the I century BC. e. Today, archaeological excavations are carried out in this area.
Holidays in Italy in October will fly by, if you plan your visit to interesting places. For example, many tourists are interested in architectural monuments, which give an idea of the era in which they were created. In the 4th century, the Greek Acropolis was built on the hill of Guasco; today, in its place, stands the Duomo - the cathedral, a symbol of Ancona. This is one of the most interesting medieval buildings, which is a mixture of Romanesque, Byzantine, Gothic styles. The cathedral is decorated with a pair of lions carved from Verona pink marble, a dome dating from the 14th century, and a chapel with an altar by Luigi Vanvitelli. There is a miraculous image of Mary, the legend says that during Napoleon's invasion her eyes opened.
Museums of the city
To get to know Ancona closer, you should look at the exhibits, paintings, various statues. The city has the National Archaeological Museum of Marche and the Diocesan Museum. The first focuses on a collection of artifacts discovered during excavations in the Marche region. Here are collected things from almost every era. In the prehistoric department, finds of the Bronze and Paleolithic periods are collected, there are objects that are more than 200,000 years old. There is a collection that tells about the life of the people who lived on the territory of the city during the Iron Age. There are departments devoted to the Gallic invasion, Greek and Roman, medieval periods.
The Diocesan Museum tells the story of Ancona, dating back to the early Christian era. Here there is a reconstruction of the ruins of the portal of the Romanesque church of St. Peter, a sarcophagus with the relics of the martyr Dasius, dating from the VI century, a huge collection of paintings, statues, objects of worship. The museum has preserved tapestries created by Rubens.
Shopping
Italy has remained the manufacturer of the most fashionable, beautiful and high-quality clothing for many years. Ancona cannot boast of numerous boutiques, huge shopping streets, but even here lovers of shopping will find work. Products of brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Gucci, Dior, Balenciaga, find in the city is not a problem. Ancona has many clothing and shoe stores. Here you can also buy precious jewelry and jewelry, alcoholic beverages, traditional treats, equipment and much more. The format of outlets in the city is very different, there are retail shops, small shops, shopping centers, markets, malls.
Ancona's Kitchen
In the city there are a lot of restaurants, cafes, bars, tourists will definitely not stay hungry here. Ancona on the map of Italy is located near the water, so it is not surprising that Mediterranean specialties are considered specialties. In restaurants, soups, snacks, salads are served with fish, shrimp and other seafood. Italian chefs delightfully prepare pizza and pasta, guests are offered various variations of these dishes, it is unrealistic to try them all, because each master brings something of his own to the meal. Ancona delivers superb delicacies and local wines are also worth a try. Ancona has restaurants for every taste. Some of them have a secluded, calm atmosphere, while others, on the contrary, focus on the entertainment program and provide live music. Therefore, every traveler will be able to find the most attractive institution for himself and relax in it body and soul.
When is the best time to relax in Ancona?
They mainly come to the city for a beach holiday. More or less normal weather is set in June, it can be warm in May, but the water in the sea warms up only to 18 ° C, which is not suitable for couples with children. It is best to come to Ancona in the summer, at this time of the year it is warm, the sea is like fresh milk, there are many entertainment facilities. Holidays in Italy in September are also incredibly attractive. This month the temperature drops by only a few degrees, but there is no stuffiness, a small number of tourists does not create crowds, so you can safely visit all the excursions that are of interest. When to come to Ancona is everyone's business. This port town is attractive at any time of the year. It is worth coming here once and you don’t want to leave here at all.