Ancona, Italy: More Than Meets The Eye

Ancona is a seaport and city in the Marches region in central Italy, located on the Adriatic Coast. It is one of the main ports on the Adriatic Sea, especially for passenger traffic, as many ferry boats travel between it and Croatia, Albania, Greece and Turkey.

The city was founded by Greek settlers from Syracuse around 387 BC, and given its name from the Greek word Αγκων, meaning "elbow", because of the shape of the harbor.

Along with Venice, Ancona was an important destination for merchants from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. There came to be a strong Greek community in the city as a result, although along with it came frequent conflicts between Orthodox and Catholic Greeks. This persisted until the French occupied the city in 1797. Ancona entered the Kingdom of Italy on September 29, 1860 and was to become one of the most important ports on the Adriatic during World War I.  In World War II, the city suffered severe bombing damage by the Allies, although fortunately some historic site remain and are preserved for today's modern visitors.

Cattedrale San Ciriaco (Ancona Cathedral) - This Roman Catholic church is located on the site of the former acropolis of the Greek city. On top of Guasco hill, visiting the church grounds offer impressive views of Ancona and its gulf. The famous red marble lions outside greet all who come to visit, and the church's dome is one of the oldest in all of Italy.

Chiesa Santa Maria della Piazza - This Romanesque Church is noteworthy for its unusual, dramatic exterior and early mosaics within. If you are lucky to be there when open, take advantage of the guides who will help you understand the church's history and importance.

Monumento ai Caduti - This World War I monument at the Piazza Quattro Novembre 1 offers more dramatic views, overlooking the beach. A nice place to visit any time of the day when the weather is pleasant, there are steps to walk down to the beach if you choose—or just soak up the atmosphere.

The Arch of Trajan - This Roman triumphal arch was built during the reign of Emperor Trajan. It was built to honor him after he spent out of his own pocket to expand the city's docks and fortifications. Today it makes for an unusual, ancient vision amidst the modern activity of the busy dock, but makes for a nice walk to visit on a sunny day.

Pinacoteca Comunale “F. Podesti” - This art museum contains notable works by artists including Titian, Carlo Crivelli, Lorenzo Lotto, il Guercino, and Francesco Podesti to name a few.

Fontana del Calamo - This 16th century, well preserved fountain is an intriguing sight to come upon while exploring the city. The thirteen masked faces on the water spouts allegedly represent thirteen people who were beheaded!

The Chiesa San Domenico and Piazza del Plebiscito - This church sits at the end of one of the main squares in Ancona (known locally as the "Pope Square" because of the statue outside). Try to catch it when it's open to the public; the inside is simple yet elegant, and it does feature a lovely Titian and other artworks. Afterwards the square makes for an excellent place to enjoy traditional Ancona fare for lunch.

Le Marche cuisine is truly a hidden gem of all of Italy's culinary delights. Of course the seafood of the Adriatic plays a major role in the region's cuisine, but you will also find rich poultry and game dishes in the inland regions, decadent cheeses, and delightful light and tasty wines. 

This wonderful cookbook explores the rich cuisine of the region. It is worth studying before you travel to know what dishes to look out for, or something you may want to purchase after your trip to learn how to prepare these classic dishes at home. From rice to pasta to seafood and antipasti, it covers all the traditional food of Ancona and Le Marche in excellent, easy-to-read detail.

The hotel is actually located in a 19th century real fort, within the Parco del Conero—meaning it is surrounded by natural, preserved beauty. The best rooms are the specious suites, each with their own style and design. The hotel has a pool, a private beach area, and a simply wonderful restaurant (the food was so good, we ate three dinners here and simply had to try everything we could!) While it can be pricey in season, you can often find good deals there if you are staying outside of the prime summer months.

From the hotel, you are only another 20 minute drive to the medieval village of Sirolo, 30 minutes to Loreto, and only 15 minutes to Camerano where you can visit ancient underground caves.

^{An elegant seafood entree at the restaurant at Hotel Fortino Napoleonico.}

But of most note inside the church is the marble enshrined Santa Casa or "Holy House", which by legend is the actual house from Nazareth where Mary was born and raised, received the Annunciation, and lived during the childhood of Christ and after his Ascension. The house was supposedly carried by angels, first to Croatia and then across the Adriatic Sea to the woods near Recanati to protect it from invading Turks. As a visitor you must line up in a queue to enter, say your prayers, and then continue on through the church.

Whether you believe the legend or not, it is hard to deny the powerful spiritual energy that falls upon you when you enter and imagine the possibilities. The house is attributed to many miracles, along with "Our Lady of Loreto", the "Black Madonna" carved of wood and blackened with centuries of lamp smoke located within.

Do you believe in miracles? Want to learn more about the story of the Holy House in Nazareth and how it came to be transported all the way to Loreto, Italy?

This book explores the history, documentation and miracles attributed to Mary's house with original sources going back to the thirteenth century. Read it and you just might come away a believer...