What to see in Ancona in 2 days: itinerary through sea, history and the secret Conero
Discover what to see in Ancona in 2 days: from the cathedral on Guasco hill to the Passetto, from the historic port to the wild Conero beaches.
Why Ancona deserves 2 days
Ancona is a port city that surprises those who visit it with attention. Overlooking the Adriatic on an elbow-shaped promontory (hence the Greek name Ankon), it conceals a historic centre rich in Roman, medieval and Renaissance layers, with the Conero Park just a few kilometres away.
Day 1: The historic centre and the port
Morning: Guasco hill and the Cathedral
Start at the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, which dominates the city from the summit of Guasco hill. This Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, built over a Roman temple dedicated to Venus, offers a 360-degree view over the port, the city and the sea. The portal with its stylophore lions and pink marble columns is deeply striking.
Descend towards the Roman Amphitheatre, dating from the 1st century AD, still partially visible among the buildings of the centre. Nearby, the Arch of Trajan at the port is one of the best preserved in Italy.
Hidden gem: the Church of Santa Maria della Piazza, with its sculpted 12th-century Romanesque facade and the remains of a palaeochristian basilica visitable beneath the floor.
Afternoon: Piazza del Plebiscito and the Museum
Reach Piazza del Plebiscito (known as Piazza del Papa), the city's drawing room with the statue of Clement XII and the Church of San Domenico. The National Archaeological Museum of the Marche, housed in Palazzo Ferretti, preserves Picene and Roman finds of extraordinary value.
Walk along Corso Mazzini and the shopping streets, then descend towards the old port, undergoing redevelopment but still evocative with its warehouses and the Mole Vanvitelliana, a former pentagonal lazaret designed by Vanvitelli in the 18th century.
Evening: The Passetto
Head to the War Memorial and the Passetto beach, reachable via a panoramic staircase carved into the rock. The caves dug into the tuff along the coast, used as boat storage, create a unique landscape. The sunset from here, with the sun setting over the Adriatic (Ancona is the only Adriatic city where the sun sets over the sea), is spectacular.
Day 2: The Conero and surroundings
Morning: Conero Park
Dedicate the morning to Monte Conero and its beaches. The Due Sorelle beach, reachable only by boat, is one of the most beautiful in Italy with its white limestone sea stacks. Alternatively, San Michele beach can be reached on foot along a trail through the woods.
The Conero Park trails offer walks through Mediterranean scrub, holm oaks and breathtaking coastal views. The trail descending to the Spiaggiola of Sirolo is among the most evocative.
Afternoon: Sirolo and Numana
Visit the villages of Sirolo and Numana, perched on the Conero coast. Sirolo has a tiny panoramic square overlooking the sea that takes your breath away. Numana has an antiquarium with Picene finds and a delightful marina.
Hidden gem: the Church of the Crucifix in Numana, housing a medieval wooden crucifix of great popular devotion, and the Roman caves along the coast.
Recommended walking routes
- **Historic route** (3 km): Cathedral - Amphitheatre - Arch of Trajan - Old Port - Mole Vanvitelliana
- **Panoramic route** (2.5 km): Piazza del Plebiscito - Corso Mazzini - Passetto - Passetto caves
- **Nature route** (6 km): Passo del Lupo - San Michele beach - Monte Conero viewpoint
Practical tips
- Ancona is windy: bring a jacket even in summer
- You need a car or the summer bus from Ancona for the Conero
- Free Conero beaches fill up early in August: arrive in the early morning
- Fresh fish is best eaten in restaurants at the port and the Passetto
- Brodetto all'anconetana (fish stew) is the signature dish not to miss
- The historic centre is in a phase of renaissance: some buildings are under restoration
What not to miss
- The sunset from the Passetto (the sun sets over the Adriatic Sea)
- The Cathedral of San Ciriaco and the view from Guasco hill
- The wild beaches of the Conero
- The Mole Vanvitelliana
- A brodetto all'anconetana in a port trattoria
