Lazzaretto of Ancona

The Lazzaretto of Ancona is a pentagonal quarantine station in the port of Ancona, occupying an artificial island of roughly 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet). Three stone bridges span the Mandracchio channel and connect the compact structure to the mainland.

Pope Clement XII ordered construction between 1733 and 1743 to isolate ships, goods and travelers for forty days and protect the city from epidemics. The facility later served as a sugar refinery in 1884 and then as a tobacco factory until 1947.

The chapel honors Saint Roch, a protector against disease, and stands around a well that locals once believed held healing powers. Visitors today can still see the simple facade and vaulted interior of this small devotional space in the courtyard.

The municipality of Ancona manages the building for exhibitions and events, and the Museo Tattile Omero inside offers art experiences through touch. The bridges are usually walkable, and the courtyard remains accessible during public opening hours.

The layout still follows the original scheme of long corridors and separate chambers that once kept sick travelers apart from each other. This arrangement feels like a maze and gives a sense of the strict order imposed by epidemic control in the 18th century.

Location: Ancona

Inception: July 27, 1733

Architects: Luigi Vanvitelli

Part of: Ancona defensive system

Website: https://comuneancona.it/ankonline/cultura/mole-vanvitelliana

GPS coordinates: 43.61438,13.50365

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30