Loggia dei Mercanti, Gothic palace near the port in Ancona, Italy
The Loggia dei Mercanti is a Gothic building located near Ancona's port, featuring four vertical sections on its ornate stone facade. Each section displays a statue representing Hope, Fortitude, Justice, and Charity.
Construction began in 1442 under architect Giovanni Pace, with Giorgio da Sebenico designing the present facade between 1451 and 1459. This extended building process reflects the complexity of the project during the Renaissance period.
The hall's vault holds surviving fragments of frescoes Pellegrino Tibaldi painted after the 1556 carnival fire, cleaned during recent restorations. Above the civic coat of arms, crossed keys and a lambello were added after Ancona lost its independence, marking papal rule. Since 1987 a high relief on the port side shows St Francis embarking for Egypt.
The building now houses the Chamber of Commerce and is accessible during business hours from Monday through Friday. Visitors should check opening times in advance, as hours may vary depending on the day and special events.
On the harbour side, a 1987 high-relief shows St Francis of Assisi about to board a ship for Egypt from the port of Ancona. The original design had no ground-floor doors or windows on either side, which is why the building is still called a loggia.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,233 contributors worldwide.
