Festa del mare (Sea Festival)

The Festa del Mare in Ancona celebrates the deep bond between the Doric capital, the Adriatic Sea, and its rich maritime heritage. The event animates the city's key landmarks, from the Passetto to the Porto Antico, reaching into the city center and up to the Duomo. The program combines cultural initiatives, music, live entertainment, fishing tourism, and activities dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of the marine environment. Gastronomy plays a starring role with a tasting itinerary dedicated to local flavors: Piazza Cavour hosts clam specialties prepared by the Co.Ge.Vo. of Ancona alongside traditional dishes by the Accademia dello Stoccafisso, while the Porto Antico area features street food stands serving fresh local catch cooked by local producers. One of the festival's most moving highlights is the traditional sea procession, during which the statue of the Madonna Stella Maris, protector of seafarers, is carried from the harbor aboard a boat and escorted by a fleet of vessels to honor the seafaring community and remember all those who lived at sea.