Ancona

Ancona is a major city and seaport on the Adriatic coast of Italy, and it is the capital of the Marche region.

Here is a summary of key information about the city:

Geography and Name

• Location: Central Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, situated on an elbow-shaped promontory that forms a natural harbor.
• Name Origin: The name Ancona comes from the Ancient Greek word ankṓn ($\text{ἀγκωˊν}$), meaning “elbow” or “bend,” referring to the shape of the promontory. For this reason, it is also sometimes called “the Doric city,” due to its founding by Greeks from Syracuse.
• Regional Capital: It is the capital of both the province of Ancona and the Marche region.

History

• Founding: Founded around 390 BCE by Greek colonists from Syracuse.
• Roman Era: It became an important Roman port, especially under Emperor Trajan, who enlarged the harbor. The Arch of Trajan still stands in the port today.
• Middle Ages: It was a city of the Byzantine Empire and later became a semi-independent republic that rivaled Venice for control of the Adriatic.

Key Attractions and Landmarks

• Cattedrale di San Ciriaco (Ancona Cathedral): A Roman-Gothic basilica located on the Monte Guasco hilltop, offering panoramic views of the city and port.
• Porto di Ancona (Ancona Harbor): One of the main ports on the Adriatic, busy with passenger traffic to destinations like Croatia, Greece, and Albania. The port is home to the ancient Arch of Trajan.
• Mole Vanvitelliana (or Lazzaretto): An 18th-century pentagonal building on its own island in the port, originally built as a quarantine station.
• Passetto Beach: The city’s most popular beach, known for the picturesque “caves” dug into the cliff rock by locals to store boats and fishing gear.
• Piazza del Plebiscito (Piazza del Papa): A prominent public square in the historic center.
• National Archaeological Museum of Marche: Houses one of the region’s largest collections of artifacts, located in the Palazzo Ferretti.

Economy

• Ancona’s economy is heavily based on its role as a major port for passenger and freight traffic, fishing, and related industries like shipbuilding. It is a key economic hub for the Marche region.