The Syracusans, who founded it in the 4th century BC, called it ?Ankon', which means elbow, due to the folded shape of its coast that is bathed by the Adriatic Sea. A seafaring Republic trading with Damatia in the time of the Communes, Ancona's existence has always been linked to the port, which in turn is interlaced with the sea. The sandy expanse of its beaches to the north and the rugged profile ...

Ancona owes its name to the special elbow shape ("ankon" in Greek) of the promontory on which it was founded

Ancona revolves around its port, with its significant commercial wealth and tourism: it is the departure point for most of the ships going to Greece

Ancona reveals its beauty as you float away from the port by boat: indeed, the charm of its buildings perched on the headland can be seen from the sea.

A panoramic view of the Ancona coast from the hinterland: the colour of the earth runs into the dark blue of the Adriatic

As is the case with many coastal cities, Ancona's history is intimately linked to that of its port