Why Ancona?
October 11, 2011
Ancona’s Top Sights Will Tell You Why
The Gola della Rossa Natural Park is the biggest conservation area in the region of Marches. The park is a sight worth seeing and is divided up into different routes for varying abilities to get around the park. Touristic, the first route is about an hour long. Next is also easy but will take 2 hours and lastly, the difficult one, a bit more difficult and taking about 3 hours. In the park is the Gola della Rossa, a fantastic mountain gorge and the Grotte di Frasassi which goes almost 20 kms inside the Park.
The Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto is a place of worship with high attendance and is well-known throughout Italy and also Europe. Tradion has it that the Holy House of Nazareth was transported by angels across the sea from Palestine to the small town of Tersatto in the 13th century. It was moved to different locations until finally it came to stay where it is now. Many have made the pilgrimage to the shrine looking for answers for many reasons of a spiritual nature.
Monte Conero Regional Natural Park. This is a place of natural beauty, distinctly Mediterraean in the plant life,flora and fauna. There are wondrous views of beaches, the sea and mountains. There are many species of birds and animals too. If beaches are your thing then you must visit the Velvet Beach. It is a flat, wide, sandy beach , a great place to enjoy the sun. Good place for families to have fun.
Ancona has it all!
May 5, 2010
1.Historic Ancona
Ancona is the capital of Le Marche. This city is definitely worth the visit. Ancona is famous for its large harbours from which numerous ferries depart for Greece and Croatia. The 15th Century Loggia dei Mercanti however is a site well worth visiting. It was a place where merchants could meet to discuss business. The front of this monument to the history of Ancona is finished in the Adriatic Gothic style. Take a look also at the Arco di Traiano which was built by the Senate of Rome in AD 100-116 at the harbour. There are wonderful Renaissance paintings in the Galleria d’Arte Moderna have to be seen. The Piazza del Plebiscite is the biggest in Ancona and is overlooked by the Government House and the Church of San Domenico. There are also the Teatro delle Muse, the Biblioteca Comunale and the Museo della citta in Ancona to be visited. You’ll be glad to get back to the car after visiting these places in Ancona.
2. Beaches
If you fancy some sunbathing on a beach, then drive your hire car up the coast about 5 miles from Ancona to Falconara Marittima. Here there is a beautiful beach that stretches for miles. There’s not a great deal to be found in the town itself but the beach more than makes up for that! Drive also to Numana as the locals do! It’s very near to Ancona and is a modern tourist locality, full of wonderful gardens and fine golden sandy beaches. all of the beautiful beaches around Ancona are perfect spots for sunbathing and enjoying the Adriatic Sea.
3. Visit Frasassi Grotto
When you’ve rested yourselves lying on the beach, pack up the hire car and head for Frasassi stalactite caves (Grotte di Frasassi) , outside Ancona. The route insidethe caves covers about one or two km and absolutely worth seeing!! The temperature in the caves can be a bit chilly so you might need a sweater or long trousers instead of shorts and this is where your hired car comes in handy as you can have extra items of clothing without having to carry them around. Definitely no high heeled shoes for this terrain!! Photography is usually prohibited. Before going inside the caves you can do some shopping in the little piazza / market square, filled with vendors selling postcards and souvenirs.
4. Eating Out in Ancona
At the Restaurant Della Rosa they serve wonderful salads! Lunch, dinner or an ice cream here are great! The Opera della Marca is a real gourmet experience, try the Risotto con Spacacassi amongst many other beautiful and tasy dishes here. Ancona’s main food is from the sea so look out for Stoccafisso all Anconitano a dish of cod cooked in herbs and vegetables. By the way. one drink you must try is Turchatto which is a strong shot of the bitter Italian Cafe Lungo, black rum and lemon juice. There are many many wonderful places to eat at in Ancona enjoy sampling as many as you can.
Ancona’s Saint Ciriaco
March 5, 2009
On your trip to Ancona, you must stop in at the cathedral church of Saint Ciriaco. Building was completed in 1189 after it was consecrated in 1128. It is also believed that the original church dated from the 8th Century. The beautiful cathedral is constructed in the form of a cross making fine use fo grey stone. It is of Romanesque architecture although the facade has a Gothic look and feel.
Inside this wonderful Anconian cathedral there are numerous crypts. There are also 10 columns which are dedicated to the temple of Venus. In the 1980s, the cathedral underwent a careful and successful restoration to bring it back to its fullest glory.
The cathedral is dedicated to Saint juda Cyriacus. The story tells of him being the Bishop of Ancona who was killed in 133AD. There is a feast on the 14th of April each year to celebrate the life of this Bishop of Ancona. His death was said to have been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. To this day the supposed body of Cyriacus lies visible in his tomb.
Shopping in Ancona
February 7, 2009
Laden with magnificent coastlines and pristine white sand beaches, you’ll likely be coming to Mancona for the water. It won’t be surprising, however, if shopping becomes a secondary pastime during your stay.
A port city, Ancona sees a variety of goods scattered along its numerous shopping areas such as Piazza Roma, Piazza Erbe, Corso Mazzini, Corso Stamira, Corso Garibaldi, and Piazza del Plebiscito. Pick up all sorts of products from shoes to bags to jewelries of different varieties, often bartered at tempting prices.
Traditional shops sit side by side with modern fare so you’ll likely be coming across art pieces, antiques and pottery while putting together an outfit among the lot of stores scattered about. Every last Sunday of the month is a special treat for antique lovers at the Piazza Cavour, where various dealers showcase their elegant wares.
If you’re angling for high-end fashion purchases, take a 40 minute drive in your car hire from Ancona to Civitanova Marche. Bring home signature clothes, shoes and accessories at heavily discounted prices. That’s how many spend their trips to Ancona – they come for the sea but leave with luggages brimming full of wondrous purchases.
Ancona Cathedral
January 19, 2009
However long your stay in Ancona, a visit to the beautiful and renowned Cathedral of St Ciriaco is an absolute must. Consecrated in 1128 and finally completed 60 years later, it is one of Italy’s finest Romanesque churches and is the jewel in Ancona’s architectural crown. The Cathedral of St Ciriaco is actually built on the site of an even more ancient temple, built in honour of Venus, the Roman Goddess of love. Some of the ruins of this much older structure are still visible beneath the church itself, and it has been suggested that the Ancona Cathedral’s ten columns mirror the layout of the original pagan temple.
Built from exquisitely worked grey stone, Ancona Cathedral sits majestically on the city’s Guasco hill, commanding the most spectacular views of the city and the Adriatic – one of the many reasons why the short climb from the city’s main streets is so richly rewarded and not to be missed.
Ancona Car Hire – Which car is for you?
October 4, 2008
Ancona Airport Information
October 4, 2008
Ancona Airport Information
Ancona Airport Information
Ancona Falconara Airport was named after Renaissance painter Raffaello Sanzio di Falconara, who was born nearby.
Telephone: 0039 071 28271
Ancona Airport Code: AOI
Airport website: www.ancona-airport.com
Airport address: Ancona Falconara Airport, 60015 Falconara, Italy
Ancona Airport Information – Amenities
There are both currency exchanges and cash machines in the airport
There are also first aid facilities in the airport.
Transport
The airport itself is located right in the heart of Italy and is therefore well supported by an excellent transport infrastructure. Such as Ancona Railway station as well as the multi-mode transport centre – Interporto. It is also has great motorways for Bar, Milan and Rome, Milan.
Airport car hire: This is best served by Ancona airport car hire
Airport Taxis sit outside the airport day and night
Bus: There is a regular bus service from the airport to Ancona
Times and locations can be found at Ancona Airport Information desk.
Ancona Airport Information
Ancona – A brief overview
October 4, 2008
The sharp traveller knows that Ancona has lot to offer. The geographical location lies in between the stunning Mount Conero, the gorgeous coastline and steps across the hills of Gausco and Cardato. In fact the sharp tourists will also know that Ancona actually means “elbow” in Greek and thereby actually reflecting its position perfectly.
Like many Italian towns Ancona is separated in quarters (whether there are four or not!). In Ancona’s case sitting on the Gausco hillside is the important historic centre housing many attractions like the Church of St Domenico, the Palazzo Bosdari which houses the wonderful art museum of Francesco Podesti and the Mole Vanvitelliana.
Whereas the modern area of Ancona lies in the valley and as well as having nearly 5 miles of sumptuous beaches is also one of the most strategic sea ports located in the Adriatic. The international importance of Ancona is reflected in some of the events that are staged here including the Adriatic Nautical Exhibition and the International Fish show. Now the latter may not be to everyone’s taste but if your tastes extend to good food then this is definitely for you.
In Ancona you will be able to enjoy many local specialities as well as the wines of the regions like Lacrima di Morro and Verdicchio dei Castelli di. So if you are looking for an Italian city that is not engulfed with millions of tourists then you could do worse than visit Ancona. If you are looking to hire a car then use Pronto to arrange this for you. Use our car booking system on the right of the page and you can arrange to pick the car up at the airport or in Ancona itself. You can even drop it off in another city – or Country if so desired. We will be adding more reviews of Ancona in coming weeks including where to stay, what to eat and the best delights of the region. Ciao!
Ancona is the place for tango lovers
September 22, 2008
What to see and do in Ancona
September 13, 2008
The city of Ancona is the regional capital of the Marche region in Italy. As Ancona is situated on the Adriatic coastline it has seen a steady increase in tourism mainly due to the low cost air carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet. That is not to say that Ancona has become a must visit destination in its own right – far from it. Most people fly to Ancona to either get a ferry to Greece or Croatia or explore the rest of the Marche region.
If you find yourself in Ancona then there are still a few things that we would recommend you should do. As it is quite a small and compact city there is no real reason to hire a car to explore the town. We would recommend renting a car if you wanted to go further afield. In the city itself are the attractions of a wonderful cathedral and a worthy Roman Amphitheatre to while away a few hours. Once you have worked up a thirst perhaps you will be looking for some refreshments and if so then grab a coffee or a pizza in one of the many little shops offering these.
For those that want to do even less than this then we would recommend that you check out Ancona’s beaches. Being on the Adriatic coast means Ancona is slap bang in about 180Km of beautiful coastline.
For those considering visiting further away from the town and perhaps finding out why Le Marche is dubbed ‘the new Tuscany’ then we recommend you hire a car. Less than an hour’s drive from Ancona will get you to Loreto which is home to the biggest Marian sanctuary in the whole of Italy. We would also recommend that you get in your car and check out the spectacular caves of Frasassi or perhaps take your car along the coast to Conero and enjoy the views that this drive has to offer.
In the coming months we will be reviewing more things to do in Ancona as well as other places to drive to in your car. In the meantime, please leave us some of your suggestions too. In the meantime thanks for visiting our Ancona website from Pronto: The Italian Car Hire Specialists.