Category: ANCONA & THE ADRIATIC IDENTITY
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Exploring the Archaeological Museum of Numana
The Antiquarium Statale of Numana is located in the old town. The museum collects materials from the Picene necropolis of Sirolo-Numana, one of the most important burial sites of the Adriatic Iron Age. The exhibition includes grave goods from richly furnished tombs, such as weapons, bronze ornaments, pottery, and personal items. These objects help reconstruct…
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San Francesco alle Scale: Ancona’s Monumental Stairway Church
As part of our Ancona Walking Tour, we visited San Francesco alle Scale, beautifully set at the top of a staircase in the old town. San Francesco alle Scale is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture, as proven by its elegant Venetian-Gothic portal. A distinctive element of San Francesco alle Scale is its unique location.…
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Roman Ancona: the Amphitheatre and Its Legacy
As the Ancona Walking Tour makes its way through the old city, the remnants of the Roman city slowly emerge before our eyes. Roman Ancona grew as a key Adriatic port, connecting Italy with the eastern Mediterranean. Its prosperity emerges in the remains scattered across the city, such as the Arch of Trajan, the mosaics…
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Early Christianity in Ancona: Santa Maria della Piazza
The Ancona Walking Tour includes a stop in front of the church of Santa Maria dell Piazza. Blind arcades shape the thirteenth-century façade. Its portal is a jewel of medieval carving, while the upper register was struck by an earthquake. The Romanesque interior welcomes us in its sober simplicity. Through glass panels in the floor,…
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The Palazzo degli Anziani and Ancona’s Civic Power
The Palazzo degli Anziani rises before the waterfront, a quiet witness to the city’s golden age as a maritime republic in the Middle Ages. From here, the Ancona Walking Tour ascends toward the old city, following ancient Greek steps framed by medieval architecture. The urban landscapes unfolds layer by layer as we climb. As we…
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Columns Mirroring the Sea: Vanvitelli’s Chiesa del Gesù
When the Ancona Walking Tour reaches Piazza Stracca, once the heart of the city’s government, we observe the Chiesa del Gesù rising in front of the Palazzo degli Anziani. Designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, the graceful curved façade reflects the shape of the gulf. From the top of the church steps, a beautiful view opens over…
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The Arch of Trajan and Ancona Historic Port
Starting from the meeting point in front of the Teatro delle Muse, the Ancona Walking Tour leads into the heart of the harbor. Here, two arches have welcomed visitors for centuries: the Arch of Trajan, built in 115 AD, and the Arco Clementino created by Luigi Vanvitelli in the 18th century. Looking at the Arco Clementino…
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Between Forest and Stone: a Walk through Sirolo
Beginning in the little square of the town hall, our Sirolo & Numana Walking Tour gently descends toward the sea. The forest breathes salt and resin, and light filters through the trees. The 20-minute walk toward Spiaggia San Michele sharpens our senses, inviting us to listen to silence and wind before opening onto the shifting…
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Saint Cyriacus: a Closer Look at the Cathedral’s Sculptures
When our Ancona Walking Tour reaches the Cathedral of Saint Cyriacus, the city unfolds below us. From the cathedral square, we are able to see the ancient arches, the gulf, and the hills in the distance. Thanks to the fresh, clear weather, we took time to admire the medieval portal, crafted from white Mount Conero…