Territory and Surroundings

 

The Ancona promontory extends from Mount Conero and stretches out into a series of cliffs, which have been given different names:  Trave, Passetto, and Due Sorelle.

Between Passetto and the port, the cliffs form three hills: the Cardeto, the Cappuccini and the Guasco, where most of the old town and also the wonderful Cathedral of San Ciriaco is located there.

 

The Astagno hill in the south is crowned by the bastion of the Citadel. As is the case for all Adriatic towns, the sun rises from the sea; however Ancona is unique in that, because of the "elbow", during the summer the sun also sets over the sea, in front of Mount Ardizio, Pesaro, which marks the edge of the gulf of Ancona. 

 

The fishing port, Mandracchio,which is located around the Lazzaretto designed by Vanvitelli, is very characteristic. To appreciate and feel the atmosphere, the best time for a visit is at dawn, when the fishing boats return and the fish market opens. At Passetto, on the lowest slopes of the Conero, a series of caves, fashioned long ago as simple shelters for boats, have been transformed into seaside dwellings, often fitted with all modern comforts. These caves can be reached on foot from the Monumento ai Caduti (the War Memorial) and it is worth going for a stroll along the beach in order to see them.

 
 
Photogallery
 

Twelve kilometres from the town, on the way to Mount Conero, is the Portonovo peninsula. Here there are two noteworthy buildings : the Guard Tower, built by order of Pope Clement XI; and the five-naved Basilica dedicated to Santa Maria di Portonovo.

 

South of Ancona there are various places of interest for the tourist: Sirolo; Numana; Loreto with its sanctuary; Recanati, birth place of the poet Giacomo Leopardi; Camerano and Castelfidardo, home of the accordion factories. To the north there are Senigallia and Jesi and, in the Fabriano area, the remarkable Frasassi caves.

 

 

Further tourist information can be obtained from the:

Apt - Ente di Promozione Turistica

Via Thaon di Revel 4, 60124 ANCONA (AN)

071 358991,

 

and in summer from the two Tourist Information Offices (Ufficio Informazioni) situated on the harbour (Stazione Marittima)

tel. 071-201183 and in Piazza Roma.