Ancona Cathedral
| Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Cyriacus Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Ciriaco |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Ancona, Italy |
| Geographic coordinates | 43°37′31″N 13°30′37″E / 43.62528°N 13.51028°ECoordinates: 43°37′31″N 13°30′37″E / 43.62528°N 13.51028°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Ancona-Osimo |
| Country | Italy |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 996 |
| Completed | 1017 |
Ancona Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Ancona, Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Ciriaco) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Ancona, central Italy, dedicated to Saint Cyriacus of Ancona. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Ancona. The building is an example of mixed Romanesque-Byzantine and Gothic elements, and stands on the site of the former acropolis of the Greek city, the Guasco hill which overlooks Ancona and its gulf.
Excavations carried on in 2016 proved that an Italic temple, perhaps dedicated to Aphrodite, existed on the site as early as the 3rd century BC. On top of it, in the 6th century CE, a Palaeo-Christian church was built: this had a nave and three aisles with the entrance facing south-east (where the current Chapel of the Crucifix is). Some remains of it still in existence include a mosaic pavement and perimeter walls.
In 995–1015 a new church was built, which kept the original walls. In 1017 the renovated basilica received the relics of Saint Marcellinus of Ancona and Saint Cyriacus. Further enlargement works occurred between the late 12th and the early 13th centuries, with the addition of a transept to obtain a Greek cross plan, and an entrance towards the south-west, resulting in the church now facing the port and the new road entering the city. The transepts were at a higher level than the previous nave, and had apses. The church, previously dedicated to Saint Lawrence, was re-dedicated to Saint Cyriacus the Martyr, the patron saint and (possibly) bishop of Ancona.
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