St Stephen's Cathedral, Ancona

St Stephen's Cathedral stands prominently on Guasco hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea, featuring Romanesque architecture with a distinctive dome and stone portal decorated with religious sculptures and intricate carvings from the 13th century.

The cathedral was constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries on the site of a 5th-century basilica that was built over a Roman temple dedicated to Venus, representing centuries of continuous religious worship.

The cathedral houses the relics of St. Cyriacus, patron saint of Ancona, and contains numerous medieval artworks including reliefs by Giorgio da Como and Byzantine-influenced decorative elements that reflect the city's maritime trading connections.

Visitors can access the cathedral by climbing to Guasco hill in central Ancona, where the building serves as both an active place of worship and a museum displaying religious artifacts and artwork.

The cathedral's copper-covered dome, dating from the 13th century and restored after World War II damage, serves as a navigational landmark for ships entering Ancona's harbor and remains one of Italy's oldest cathedral domes.