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Province of Ancona

Ancona Province
Sunrise over Ancona

The province of Ancona spreads across the region of Le Marche from the Adriatic coast in the east to the Apennine Mountains in the west. The terrain changes from flat, sandy beaches gradually gaining height across rolling farmland before it finally reaches densely forested mountains. This province contains most of the stunning Conero Regional Park which overall covers around 6,000 hectares of protected land.

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Ancona Province
Province of Ancona, Le Marche

The main airport and port of the region are located in the city of Ancona. Aeroporto di Ancona-Falconara (AOI) is located about 12km west of Ancona in Falconara Marittima. It is also known as Aeroporto Raffaello Sanzio. Website

The port, one of the main ports on the Adriatic Sea, is located near the centre of the city and is a busy passenger port with ferries running to Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro. It has good facilities with a café, shop, restrooms and both short and long term car parks. Website

There are excellent train and bus services from Ancona to the rest of the region of Le Marche and car hire is available at the airport. The A14 motorway serves the city.

Ancona, a busy port town, is about 280km northeast of Rome and is the capital city of both the province of Ancona and the region of Le Marche. The city was founded in 387 BC by Greek settlers and the name Ancona comes from the Greek for elbow due to its elbow-shaped harbour.

In 1915 Ancona was heavily bombed by the navy of Austria-Hungary during the First World War causing severe damage to many historic buildings. Much of it has been restored but large parts were destroyed beyond repair.

Duomo di Ancona (Ancona Cathedral)

Standing on the site of the original acropolis of this Greek city, the cathedral has Romanesque-Byzantine and Gothic influences. It is built with white stone from Monte Conero with pillars, two supported by lions, made from Veronese red marble. The dome of the cathedral is one of the oldest in Italy.

Arco di Traiano (Arch of Trajan)

This arch was erected in honour of Trajan, a successful soldier Roman emperor from 98AD until his death in 117AD. It is made from Turkish marble and is 18.5 metres high. It remained in good condition and recent renovations have enhanced it further.

Lazzaretto of Ancona

This 18th century pentagonal building is called the Mole Vanvitelliana. It was built on an artificial island in the port and is connected to the mainland by three bridges. It was originally not connected to the land is believed to have been built to house lepers.

San Francesco alle Scale

This church was built in 1323 by the Franciscans and was dedicated to Santa Maria Maggiore. After being used as a hospital during the Napoleonic wars it became a museum in the 1920s until it was restored and reopened in 1953.

Some other interesting architectural buildings are Palazzo Benincasa, Palazzo del Senato, Loggia dei Mercanti and the Prefecture.

The National Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale) is housed in the Palazzo Ferretti and The Municipal Art Gallery (Pinacoteca Civica) is in the Palazzo Bosdari.

There are many pretty and interesting small towns and villages in this region and for a day out some of them are well worth a visit.

Castelfidardo

This town is famous for the production of accordions which are nearly always used in traditional Italian folk music. Other traditional musical instruments, such as harmonicas, are also produced here.

Castelleone di Suasa

Known as the 'green' town due to its flourishing nurseries it has a medieval castle, a beautiful historic centre, a 16th century portal, an archaeological museum and the archaeological park of Suasa, an ancient Roman town.

Corinaldo

The 14th century walls surrounding the town of Corinaldo are perfectly preserved. The town is also noted for a popular Halloween festival which it holds every October.

Fabriano

Situated on the main road and railway from Umbria to the Adriatic coast Fabriano is one of the more accessible towns in the mountainous region of Ancona. There are some interesting buildings such as the Palazzo del Podestà, the Sturinalto Fountain, the Communal Palace and the Vasari Portico. It was one of the first towns in Europe to produce high quality paper and there is a Museum of Paper in the town. It is also the headquarters of the domestic appliance company Indesit.

Falconara Marittima

Lying 9km north of the city of Ancona this seaside town is famous for its long, sandy beach which is used for beach volleyball as well as beach tennis and soccer. Concerts and other cultural events take place in the Cormorano Park complex to the north of the town and there is also a zoo covering an area of six acres.

Genga

Here you will find the 11th century San Vittore Abbey as well as a Spaelaeo-Palaeontologic Museum which contains a famous fossil of an Ichthyosaur found in the area in 1976. Located about 5km SSE of the town are one of the most visited natural curiosities in central Italy, the Frasassi Caves.

Jesi

Jesi is one of the more important towns of this region and is and industrial and artistic centre. Enclosed by 14th century walls it has a Duomo (cathedral), an 18th century convent, the Baroque Palazzo Balleani, a Gothic church (San Marco), an i8th century theatre and the Palazzo Pianetti which is one of the most outstanding examples of Italian Roccoco art.

Osimo

This coastal town lies around 15km south of Ancona. It has a restored Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, and a series of underground tunnels with mysterious carvings.

Ostra

A small portion its ancient town wall is still intact. It is famous for its production of silk and the raising of cocoons and silk spinning continue to this day.

This region of Le Marche is renowned for its beautiful beaches and the Riviera del Conero.

The most notable ones are:

  • Mezzavalle - An enclosed cove by the slopes of Monte Conero. It is only accessible via a 20 minute trek along a narrow path down the slope. It is worth the effort to see the white pebble beach, turquoise water surrounded by a backdrop of greenery.
  • Porto Novo - Another beach protected by Monte Conero and again it is surrounded by green and has white pebbles and translucent, turquoise water. It is a popular beach for the younger generation and a favourite anchorage for visiting yachts.
  • Passetto - The white pebbles and clean turquoise sea remain the same as the other beaches but this one is bordered by caves that were carved out of the steep rock in order to provide cover for their small boats and belongings. The caves are still used and handed down from generation to generation and the owners are known as 'grottaroli'.
  • Palombina - In contrast, this beach is sandy which makes it much more suitable for families with young children.

Food and Wine

The most famous white wine produced in this province is Verdicchio, made from the grapes of the same name which are grown mainly in the hills around Jesi. A little known, but famous local red wine of this province is Lacrima di Morro d'Alba which is produced in a small area north-west of Ancona. Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes are also grown in this area.

Black truffles are found in mountainous zone of this region and the city of Ancona is famous for its seafood.

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More Details

Flag of Le Marche
Flag of Le Marche
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 9,694 km²
      Population: 1.5m
      Density: 159/km²
      Capital: Ancona

      National Parks:
      Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National park
      The Sibillini National Park
Location of Le Marche
Location of Le Marche
Provinces of Le Marche
Provinces of Le marche
  • Comunes of Le Marche
    • Ancona
      • Agugliano
        Ancona
        Arcevia
        Barbara
        Belvedere Ostrense
        Camerano
        Camerata Picena
        Castel Colonna
        Castelbellino
        Castelfidardo
        Castelleone di Suasa
        Castelplanio
        Cerreto d’Esi
        Chiaravalle
        Corinaldo
        Cupramontana
        Fabriano
        Falconara Marittima
        Filottrano
        Genga
        Jesi
        Loreto
        Maiolati Spontini
        Mergo
        Monsano
        Monte Roberto
        Monte San Vito
        Montecarotto
        Montemarciano
        Monterado
        Morro d’Alba
        Numana
        Offagna
        Osimo
        Ostra
        Ostra Vetere
        Poggio San Marcello
        Polverigi
        Ripe
        Rosora
        San Marcello
        San Paolo di Jesi
        Santa Maria Nuova
        Sassoferrato
        Senigallia
        Serra de’ Conti
        Serra San Quirico
        Sirolo
        Staffolo

    • Ascoli Piceno
      • Acquasanta Terme
        Acquaviva Picena
        Appignano del Tronto
        Arquata del Tronto
        Ascoli Piceno
        Carassai
        Castel di Lama
        Castignano
        Castorano
        Colli del Tronto
        Comunanza
        Cossignano
        Cupra Marittima
        Folignano
        Force
        Grottammare
        Maltignano
        Massignano
        Monsampolo del Tronto
        Montalto delle Marche
        Montedinove
        Montefiore dell’Aso
        Montegallo
        Montemonaco
        Monteprandone
        Offida
        Palmiano
        Ripatransone
        Roccafluvione
        Rotella
        San Benedetto del Tronto
        Spinetoli
        Venarotta

    • Fermo
      • Altidona
        Amandola
        Belmonte Piceno
        Campofilone
        Falerone
        Fermo
        Francavilla d’Ete
        Grottazzolina
        Lapedona
        Magliano di Tenna
        Massa Fermana
        Monsampietro Morico
        Montappone
        Monte Giberto
        Monte Rinaldo
        Monte San Pietrangeli
        Monte Urano
        Monte Vidon Combatte
        Monte Vidon Corrado
        Montefalcone Appennino
        Montefortino
        Montegiorgio
        Montegranaro
        Monteleone di Fermo
        Montelparo
        Monterubbiano
        Montottone
        Moresco
        Ortezzano
        Pedaso
        Petritoli
        Ponzano di Fermo
        Porto San Giorgio
        Porto Sant’Elpidio
        Rapagnano
        Santa Vittoria in Matenano
        Sant’Elpidio a Mare
        Servigliano
        Smerillo
        Torre San Patrizio

    • Macerata
      • Acquacanina
        Apiro
        Appignano
        Belforte del Chienti
        Bolognola
        Caldarola
        Camerino
        Camporotondo di Fiastrone
        Castelraimondo
        Castelsantangelo sul Nera
        Cessapalombo
        Cingoli
        Civitanova Marche
        Colmurano
        Corridonia
        Esanatoglia
        Fiastra
        Fiordimonte
        Fiuminata
        Gagliole
        Gualdo
        Loro Piceno
        Macerata
        Matelica
        Mogliano
        Monte Cavallo
        Monte San Giusto
        Monte San Martino
        Montecassiano
        Montecosaro
        Montefano
        Montelupone
        Morrovalle
        Muccia
        Penna San Giovanni
        Petriolo
        Pieve Torina
        Pievebovigliana
        Pioraco
        Poggio San Vicino
        Pollenza
        Porto Recanati
        Potenza Picena
        Recanati
        Ripe San Ginesio
        San Ginesio
        San Severino Marche
        Sant’Angelo in Pontano
        Sarnano
        Sefro
        Serrapetrona
        Serravalle di Chienti
        Tolentino
        Treia
        Urbisaglia
        Ussita
        Visso

    • Pesaro e Urbino
      • Acqualagna
        Apecchio
        Auditore
        Barchi
        Belforte all’Isauro
        Borgo Pace
        Cagli
        Cantiano
        Carpegna
        Cartoceto
        Colbordolo
        Fano
        Fermignano
        Fossombrone
        Fratte Rosa
        Frontino
        Frontone
        Gabicce Mare
        Gradara
        Isola del Piano
        Lunano
        Macerata Feltria
        Mercatello sul Metauro
        Mercatino Conca
        Mombaroccio
        Mondavio
        Mondolfo
        Monte Cerignone
        Monte Grimano Terme
        Monte Porzio
        Montecalvo in Foglia
        Monteciccardo
        Montecopiolo
        Montefelcino
        Montelabbate
        Montemaggiore al Metauro
        Orciano di Pesaro
        Peglio
        Pergola
        Pesaro
        Petriano
        Piagge
        Piandimeleto
        Pietrarubbia
        Piobbico
        Saltara
        San Costanzo
        San Giorgio di Pesaro
        San Lorenzo in Campo
        Sant’Angelo in Lizzola
        Sant’Angelo in Vado
        Sant’Ippolito
        Sassocorvaro
        Sassofeltrio
        Serra Sant’Abbondio
        Serrungarina
        Tavoleto
        Tavullia
        Urbania
        Urbino
Le Marche Airports
Airports of Le Marche
Hotels in Le Marche
Hotels in Le Marche
Le MarcheWEATHER
Le Marche Climate (Ancona)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 15 8 4 63
Feb 15 8 4 52
Mar 17 9 5 43
Apr 19 11 6 31
May 24 15 7 17
Jun 28 18 9 9
Jul 31 22 10 6
Aug 31 22 9 9
Sep 28 19 7 29
Oct 24 16 6 53
Nov 20 12 4 63
Dec 17 10 4 59
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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