Santa Maria della Piazza, Romanesque church in Ancona, Italy
Santa Maria della Piazza is a Romanesque church in Ancona featuring a three-aisled interior supported by octagonal pillars and a raised choir area. Its marble facade is decorated with stone arches that create a rhythmic pattern across the front wall.
Building began in 1101 over the foundations of two early Christian churches from the sixth and seventh centuries. The marble work was completed by Master Filippo in 1210, giving the structure its distinctive appearance.
The name honors the Virgin Mary, the patron of Ancona and a figure central to the city's identity. The interior layout and decorative details reflect how medieval worshippers experienced devotion in a space shaped by Romanesque principles.
Glass panels set into the floor let visitors look down at ancient remains beneath the church. These windows reveal mosaics and early Christian structures from different periods stacked beneath your feet.
Preserved frescoes in the basement from the eighth and ninth centuries show how religious art changed over time. These layers beneath the church tell the story of Ancona's earliest Christian communities.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
