Via XXIX Settembre, 60122 Ancona, Italy (May 2019)

Ancona

Situated along the Adriatic Sea in central Italy, Ancona is a city shaped by the close relationship between land and water. As the capital of the Marche region, Ancona combines the energy of a working port with layers of history that span more than two millennia. Often overlooked in favour of Italy’s more famous coastal destinations, the city rewards visitors with a distinctive character, panoramic views, and a strong sense of everyday Italian life rooted in maritime tradition.

Ancona’s origins date back to 387 BCE, when it was founded by Greek settlers from Syracuse. They named it Ankon, meaning “elbow,” a reference to the unique curve of the coastline that forms a natural harbour, one of the safest on the Adriatic. This strategic position made Ancona an important trading hub in antiquity, a role it has never relinquished. The port remains the city’s economic heart, connecting Italy with the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean, and lending Ancona a dynamic, outward-looking identity.

History is woven throughout the city’s urban fabric. Overlooking the harbour is the Arch of Trajan, a remarkably well-preserved Roman monument built in the 2nd century CE to honour the emperor who expanded the port. Nearby, the Cathedral of San Ciriaco crowns Guasco Hill, blending Romanesque and Byzantine elements and offering sweeping views of the sea below. Its elevated position reflects both spiritual significance and the defensive needs of a city long exposed to maritime threats.

Ancona’s historic centre unfolds across a series of hills, connected by stairways and narrow streets that open onto unexpected vistas. Medieval churches, Renaissance palaces, and modest residential quarters coexist, creating a cityscape that feels authentic rather than curated. Unlike towns shaped primarily by tourism, Ancona maintains a lived-in atmosphere, where markets, universities, and neighbourhood cafés anchor daily routines.

The natural setting further defines the city’s appeal. To the south lies Monte Conero, a dramatic promontory that plunges into the Adriatic and shelters some of the region’s most beautiful beaches. White limestone cliffs, hidden coves, and clear waters contrast sharply with the working harbour to the north, highlighting the city’s dual identity as both industrial and scenic. The Conero area also supports vineyards and olive groves, reinforcing Ancona’s connection to the surrounding countryside.

Culinary traditions reflect this balance between sea and land. Seafood plays a central role, particularly in dishes such as brodetto all’anconetana, a rich fish stew that varies by season and catch. Local wines, including Verdicchio, complement the cuisine and reflect the agricultural heritage of the Marche region.

Worth a Visit

Photo Gallery of Walk 1 – Via Flaminia to Piazza Camillo Benso di Cavour
Approximately 2.65 km – 1.65 miles

The walk starts in – Via Flaminia – Via Guglielmo Marconi – Via XXIX Settembre – Via dell’Appannaggio – Piazza della Repubblica – Largo Sacramento – Parrocchia Del Sacramento, Piazza J. F. Kennedy – Via Enrico Cialdini – Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi – Via Giacomo Leopardi – Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi – Piazza Roma – Fontana del Calamo, Piazza Roma – Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi – Via Castelfidardo – Giardino Pubblico Piazza Stamira – Via Palestro – walk back to Corso Giuseppe Garibald – Piazza Camillo Benso di Cavour

Photo Gallery of Walk 2 – Via Indipendenza to Piazzale del Duomo
Approximately 1.65 km – 1.04 miles

The walk starts in – Via Indipendenza – Caserma Villarey, Piazzale Martelli Raffaele – Via Villarey -Via Goito – Via delle Cavorchie – Via Giacomo Matteotti – Piazza del Plebiscito – Chiesa di San Domenico, Piazza del Plebiscito – Piazza del Plebiscito – Via Catena – Chiesa di Santa Maria della Piazza, Piazza Santa Maria – Lungomare Luigi Vanvitelli – take lift up to Via Gabriele Ferretti – Scalone Nappi – Piazzale del