Ancona is a lively port city, with a harbour beautifully arranged between two rocky promontories. It is capital of Le Marche region, and host to Italy’s ferry connections to Croatia, Greece and Montenegro. Some of Ancona’s liveliness comes from the numbers of visitors just passing through, but there are plenty of reasons to stop right here, in one of the best places to stay in Ancona, and enjoy the sights. Some of our Gurus recommendations for hotels in Ancona are outside of the historic town proper, in the lush, vineyard-strewn, hinterland or further along the coast where the sandy beaches start.
Parts of Ancona’s medieval centre were bombed during WWII, but some of the most impressive buildings — as far as sightseeing is concerned — survived. The ancient Trajan Arch on the docks still stands tall at 18metres high, just as it was intended when erected in 115AD to celebrate Trajan’s construction of the harbour; the cathedral was built on top of a hill overlooking the town and the Adriatic coastline, its 11th century roof is the shape of a boat, a reminder of how intertwined this city’s history is with the ocean; and a Roman Amphitheatre. Ancona is also home to the regional archaeological museum, and a few other museums and galleries.
In addition to sightseeing, Ancona’s beaches are extremely appealing. They run between the bottom of the hill below the cathedral, all the way to Pesaro just along the coastline. One of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Ancona is along this stretch of beach, and offers a peaceful base for families, or anyone exploring the whole region. Head inland and you’ll start spotting vineyards and masserias, which is always promising for foodies.