Social Activities
- Tour of Ancona (w Guide)
- Bus Tour to Conero Coast & Loreto
- Beach Bayes Party (w Boat excursion at Le Due Sorelle).
Conero Coast
Portonovo & Fortino Napoleonico
Portonovo is the most beautiful and well known bay of the Conero Riviera and lays there where the ever-green oaks smoothing the mountain touch the sea. Shining from above, the white rocks and pebbles of the beach, originated by a landslide, are an amazing view and a wonderful picture to take.
When down on the beach, the clear waters and the astonishing views up on the cliffs of Mount Cònero are something to remember and to enjoy in every season.
Two beach areas provided with seafood restaurant with terrace overlooking a wonderful scenery, succeed to free access sections.
The Fortino Napoleonico was erected in 1811 by the Viceroy of Italy, Eugene de Beauharnais, with a clear political and military strategy, had the task of defending the southern flank of Ancona and implementing the Adriatic blockade in the trade of the British enemy.
Sirolo
Sirolo, located in the heart of the Conero Riviera, is a medieval town linked with the mountain and its traditions. Wild beaches, steep cliffs, caves, white rocks covered by pinewood overlooking deep and transparent seawater, make of Sirolo the ideal place to discover a still uncontaminated nature.
The centre, sunny and windy, is surrounded by a sea rich in fishes and hills cultivated with wheat, olive and grapes.
The unique landscape can be appreciated from the balcony-main square, the very heart of summer life, with many different open-air parlours where you can enjoy ice-cream.
Numana
The historical town centre of Numana winds along narrow streets and typical fishermen houses overlooking the sea.
Thanks to its position, Numana is like a panoramic terrace facing the Conero Riviera coastline. Its inhabitants divide it into two sections: Numana Alta (upper) the oldest part of the town lies on the hill, and Numana Bassa (lower), the more recent part of it, which includes the port and the coast until the ward of Marcelli. The beach is gravel to the north of the port and is sand, wide and more easily accessible in the south of it.
From the green gardens it's possible to have a stunning view of the landscape, as much as from the other view-point, the balcony of the tower. The Conero mountain frames this suggestive landscape. Numana is a shelter where to relax and have fun, in a dream-like environment.
Loreto
The Sanctuary of Loreto is famous in the world because it preserves the preciousnd in wh relic of the Nazarethian house of Mary, the house where the Virgin Mary was born and was educated a ich the Archangel Gabriel announced that she would become Mother of Jesus.
According to popular tradition, the Holy House was transported from Nazareth to Loreto by the Angels in flight, on the night between 9 and 10 December 1294. Already from far away we can recognize Loreto as a City-Shrine.
The basilica is a Late Gothic structure enriched during the Renaissance and Baroque times with masterpieces by famed architects and artists of the Italian and international scence: Donato Bramante, Guido Reni, Andrea Sansovino to name but a few. The church includes the richly decorated campanile (1750 to 1754) by Luigi Vanvitelli, renowned Italian architect of Dutch origins, also known for the Reggia at Caserta.
The church's dome and bell tower stand out over the compact cluster of buildings forming the old town, still encircled by the XVIth century town walls and massive bastions (the chemin de ronde can be visited in guided tours). The Sanctuary of Loreto is one of the most important and frequented places of worship in the Catholic world, defined by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1993: "the first international sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin and true Marian heart of Christianity".
Mole Vanvitelliana
The Mole Vanvitelliana of Ancona, also referred to as Lazzaretto, was designed by the famous Italian architect Luigi Vanvitelli, is an historical building started in 1733 and terminated ten years later. It has a peculiar pentagonal shape and is situated on an artificial island inside Ancona's harbor.
It was meant for being used for several purposes: recovery space for quarantine, deposit, fortification for the defense of the harbor. Nowadays, it is used for shows and exibitions.
Passetto
One of the most typical neighborhood in Ancona, located around one of the most famous monuments of the city: the war memorial, dedicated to the fallen during the First World War. Built in the '20, it is characterized by a perfect circular layout, surrounded by 8 columns in revisited doric style.
The entire monument is made of white stone. Just behind the monument, a wide long stair organized in two semicircular wings (deliberately recalling an eagle's wings) gives access to the sea and to the unique beach of the town.
San Ciriaco
The Dome of Ancona is dedicated to Saint Ciriaco and is the main church of the city. Its Medieval style (it was completed in 1017) is a perfect fusion between romanic and bizantine style, which is particularly evident in the layout as well as in many decorations.
It is situated on top of the Guasco hill, previously occupied by the Acropoli, which dominates the entire city of Ancona and the related gulf. In 1926, it has been appointed as “Basilica Minore” from the Pope Pio XII.
© Paolo Zitti
