The history of Ancona.

Ancona was founded by Greek settlers from Syracuse who gave the city its name, which originates from the Greek word for "elbow". It is unknown when the city became a Roman colony. Ancona was successively attacked by the Goths, Lombards and Saracens between the 3rd and 5th centuries and after the year 1000 Ancona became a very important maritime republic, only next to Venice. After the reign of the Malatesta family, the city was annexed to the Papal States in 1532.  Ancona entered the Kingdom of Italy when the French who ruled the city surrendered there in 1860. During WWI Ancona was attacked by the Austro-Hungarian troops and during WWII the Allies controlled Ancona in order to have better access to the Gothic Line, for the advance into nothern Italy.

What to see in Ancona.

  • Basilica di San Ciriaco: was consecrated at the beginning of the 11th century and completed in 1189. It is a Romanesque building.
  • ​Lazzaretto or Mole Vanvitelliana: was planned by architect Luigi Vanvitelli in 1732 and it is a pentagonal building firstly used for military reasons and then as a military hospital or as barracks. Now it hosts various cultural exhibits or concerts.
  • Arco di Traiano: a 18 m high arch, it was built as the entrance for the harbour and in honor of Trajan, the emperor who had made the harbour.
  • Passetto or Monumento ai caduti (on the right here, first image)
  • Piazza del Papa 
  • Piazza Cavour
  • Il porto antico (old harbour)
  • La lanterna rossa


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What to eat in Ancona.

  • Stoccafisso
  • Brodetto
  • Vincisgrassi (richer lasagna)
  • Cremini fritti (fried cream)
  • Pizza di formaggio 
  • Ciambellone ​