Ancona Tourist Attractions
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SituationAncona, capital of the Marche region and the province of the same name, is picturesquely situated between foothills and the bay on the Italian Adriatic coast.
Harbor
Piazza della Repubblica
The hub of Ancona's traffic is the Piazza della Repubblica. On its west side is the harbor, an oval basin 800-900m/875-985yd in diameter, the northern part of which is of Roman origin. At the north end of the breakwater is the Roman triumphal arch Arco di Traiano with an inscription recording that it was erected in A.D. 115 in honor of the Emperor Trajan and his wife and sister; to the west is the Arco Clementino (18th century).
Porta Pia
At the south end of the harbor stands the former hospital, built on a pentagonal bastion; adjoining is the Porta Pia (1789). The modern port installations are situated to the northwest.
Town Center
Palazzo de Governo
From the Piazza della Repubblica in Ancona a street on the right leads past the theater (1826) into the elongated Piazza del Plebiscito. In this square stands the Palazzo de Governo (15th century) with the prefecture and, approached by a flight of steps, is the Baroque church of Santa Domenico (18th century); inside can be seen a painting of the crucification of Christ by Titian (1558).
Merchants Hall
To the west of the Palazzo de Governo in Ancona is the Loggia dei Mercanti (exchange), a late Gothic building with a facade by Giorgio Orsini (1451-59). Adjoining stands the beautiful Palazzo Benincasa (15th century).
Church of Santa Maria della Piazza
From the exchange a street on the right leads to the church of Santa Maria della Piazza (tenth century) which was erected in the 13th century on foundations of two fifth/sixth century churches. It has an over- decorated façade (1210). Inside, the remains of the sixth century floor have been let into the wall.
Church of San Francesco delle Scale
In the Piazza San Francesco, is the church of San Francesco alle Scale with a Gothic doorway by Giorgio Orsini (1454). Note the "Assunta" by Lorenzo Lotto.
Pinacoteca Comunale
From the Piazza San Francesco the Via Pizzecolli runs north to the church of del Gesù (18th century) and the Palazzo Bosdari (1550), which houses the Pinacoteca Comunale (municipal picture collection). It contains work by Titian, Lotto, Crivelli and other masterpieces. In the modern art section are works by present-day Italian painters.
National Museum of the Marches
The Palazzo Ferretti (16th century) in Ancona houses the Museo Nazionale delle Marche (state-run museum of the Marche region) with prehistoric and Roman material of the Marche region, particularly finds of tombs, such as vases, etc.
Cathedral
From the museum in Ancona a walk up a flight of steps or a drive up a winding panoramic road, built after the destruction of the harbor district, leads to the top of Monte Guasco, on which stands the cathedral, built on the site of a temple of Venus. The domed cruciform church in Byzantine-Romanesque style (12th century) is dedicated to San Ciriaco. The façade has a Gothic doorway, which is decorated with reliefs. In the crypt are the remains of an early Christian church (sixth century) and a temple (third century B.C.).
Museo Diocesano
The diocesan museum in Ancona is housed in a building to the left of the cathedral. Notable is the early Christian sarcophagus with carved decoration belonging to Flavius Gorgonius, a praetorian prefect (fourth century).
Surroundings
Numana
A drive southwards on the coast road leads to the church of Santa Maria di Portonovo (11th century) and to Monte Conero (572m/1,888ft) from which there are extensive views. From there the road continues to the picturesque village of Sirolo and the little seaside resort of Numana.
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