Ancona A Sea Port In The Marche

Ancona is a city and a sea port in the Marche, a region of central Italy. The city is the centre of the province of Ancona and the capital of the region. It is the busy administrative capital of the Marche and the largest city in the region. The city is mostly known as a modern port, not a tourist town. The name Ancona means elbow, referring to the shape of its geographical position

Ancona is a great place to visit if your purpose is to see how an unspoiled Italian city lives. The port of Ancona is one of the most important on the Adriatic coast offering travellers the chance to board ferries to Croatia and Greece.

The best way to get around the city is on foot. The city centre is compact and is full of monuments. Trattoria la Moretta restaurant was started in 1897 by Santa Maguini, and is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the city.

On the last Sunday of every month there is an antiques market in Piazza Cavour. The old town also has the most interesting shops where antiques and gifts can be purchased. The oldest part of town straddles Colle Guasco, the hill above the port. On its peak, high above the agitation of the modern city, stands Ancona's finest church.

The locals of the city say that the city offers a tame night life. Usually they chill out and chat in bars and restaurants of the city centre until 10pm. Restaurants are plentiful and serve great meat dishes. The cuisine of this area is mostly meat based.

Ancient historians and naturalist praises the local wines, especially the ones in the area of Ancona. Today, the region has a great territory, spacious hill areas, and is heading in a positive direction for its wine industry.

The Natural Park of the Conero was established in 1987, is a magnificent area where respect and safeguard of the environment prevails. It protects one third of the regions plant species, and also has a great variety of animal life living there.

The Cathedral church of St. Ciriaco was consecrated in 1128 and completed in 1189. An early restoration was completed in 1234. It is a fine Romanesque building in grey stone, built in the form of a Greek cross, with a dodecagonal dome over the centre slightly altered by Margaritone d'Arezzo in 1270. The fasade has a Gothic portal, ascribed to Giorgio da Como in 1228.