Ancona is probably not one of the cities that would have been on my to-visit list were it not for its deep water port.  Located on Italy’s eastern coast,, smack dab on the Adriatic Sea, it is both an industrial port (cargo and commercial shipping) and a visitor port (ferries and cruise lines).  You’ll see plenty of both types of ships docking here.

I ventured to Ancona because it was the sailing point for ferries between Italy and Croatia in the Jadrolina line.

Our wayward group of travelers allowed for plenty of time to travel to Ancona, figuring that would give us plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely drive between Tuscany and Marche.  It was indeed a leisurely drive, and the route provided an array of scenic vistas.  Tuscany was full of small hill towns, winding roads, and a slow pace.  The topography changed quickly (and often), and we found ourselves driving up steep mountain grades, passing through tunnels built into the side of a cliff, and sometimes speeding along a highway cutting a swath through the countryside.

Arriving mid-afternoon, for a 9 pm sailing, gave us plenty of time to explore the port city.  The first hour or so was spent locating the Jadrolina ticket office.  It should have been easier to find than it was, and a couple of mis-turns had us in line with commercial trucks loading up cargo.  Between our bit of Italian, a bit of English from the port workers, and a lot of pointing at a map, we were finally able to get to the correct place.

After picking up our tickets (we had made reservations in advance), we needed to locate a spot to park the car for a week.  There was a parking lot about a mile from the port area, reachable by walking across an overpass, and we decided to park the car there.  Despite numerous attempts to determine how much it was going to cost us to park for a week, we couldn’t really get a handle on it, and throwing caution to the wind just parked.  It turned out to be an okay decision, with the week costing us only slightly more than prime parking for a day in downtown Seattle.

With logistics figured out, we now had time to walk the city, take a look around, and find something to eat.  Unfortunately, due to the time of day (about 4 pm at this point), this was easier said than done!  The area by the port was not terribly interesting, most restaurants and cafes were closed, and honestly, like many port areas, in looked a little scruffy and down-on-its-luck.  We eventually found a spot to have some gelato (always a good thing when you’re in Italy), and then found a spot to enjoy some quiet contemplation.  Jadrolina started the screening and boarding process around 6 pm, and the time passed before we knew it.

Although we didn’t drive there, the St. Ciriaco Cathedral is worth noting.  The history of the cross in subject to debate, some historians claiming it dates back to the 8th century, but it was restored in the 1980’s.   It’s built in the shape of a Greek cross, with a dome over the center., and you can see it in the distance in my photo.

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares