Located in Ancona, central Italy, Santa Maria della Piazza offers you a captivating look at Romanesque architecture constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries. When you visit, you will explore a historic site built over two earlier Palaeo-Christian churches from the 6th and 7th centuries. Today, you can look straight through sections of glass pavement inside the church to view the ancient architectural remains beneath your feet.
Inside, you will observe a rectangular layout featuring a central nave, two side aisles, and a raised apse. Below the main structure, the subterraneans house fascinating historical elements, including ancient frescoes, a pit, remnants of ancient Greek Ancona's walls, and layered Palaeo-Christian mosaics, with the oldest potentially dating back to the Gothic Wars. Outside, you can admire the detailed façade created in 1210 by Master Filippo, featuring blind arches, a statue of the Virgin Mary, and an arched portal attributed to Master Leonardo.
You will also notice a rectangular top window and brick bell tower added after a 1690 earthquake. Although Lorenzo Lotto's famous Altarpiece of the Halberd once hung here, it has since moved to Ancona's Municipal Pinacoteca, making this beautiful, multi-layered church an essential stop for architectural history enthusiasts.
What to see at Santa Maria della Piazza
- Glass pavement providing views of 6th and 7th-century Palaeo-Christian church remains
- Detailed 1210 façade by Master Filippo featuring blind arches and a Virgin Mary statue
- Subterranean area with ancient frescoes, a pit, and Greek wall traces
- Multi-layered Palaeo-Christian mosaics, including older designs possibly from the Gothic Wars era
- Arched entry portal attributed to Master Leonardo
Visiting tips
Look through the glass sections of the floor to view the subterranean Palaeo-Christian ruins right beneath your feet.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Santa Maria della Piazza is easy to reach on Ancona’s public transport, and pairs naturally with cathedral Basilica of St. Cyriacus and San Francesco alle Scale. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Ancona travel guide.
See the full Ancona travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.