ANCONA
The City extends out like an amphitheatre on the promontory
of Mount Conero, at 106 m above sea level, around a vast natural
port: the edges of the promontory raise up the to the height
of Mount Guasco on which the old part of the City extends
and is dominated by the Roman Cathedral of San Ciriaco (of
the 11th-13th Centuries), presenting Byzantine and Venetian
influences.
The National Museum of the Marche, is seated in the
16th Century Ferretti Palace (with prehistoric and handmade
finds discovered during archaeological digs), illustrious
for collections and rational disposition.
The Vanvitelliana (Lazzaretto) Piers, the Church of Jesus
and the Clemente XII Arch on the modern pier are beautiful
18th Century works, projected by L. Vanvitelli; on the old
Pier, we can see the marmoreal Triumphal Arch, by Traiano,
erected in 115 as a sign of recognition for the contribution
which this Emperor gave to the development of the City.
The Roman Church of Santa Maria della Piazza is also noteworthy,
together with the Loggia dei Mercanti from the 15th Century,
the old Palaces of the Governor (14th Century), degli Anziani
(Civic Art Gallery Podestà) and Giovannelli-Benincasa,
the Theatre of the Muse from the 19th Century (a small architectural
treasure in the world of Italian theatre, with its perfect
acoustics, re-opened in 2003 after a long and patient restoration)
and finally the monumental Calamo Fountain.
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