Ancona Port & Mercato delle Erbe Seafood Walk

This three-hour walking tour explores the seafood culture of Ancona, the Marche's port capital, where one of the Adriatic's busiest fishing harbours shapes the local table. Beginning at the Mercato delle Erbe, the city's central covered market, the route moves through the old town with six to eight stops at market stalls, friggitorie, and bars. The tour centres on the dishes that define Anconetana cooking, above all stoccafisso all'anconetana, the slow-cooked stockfish stew with potatoes, tomatoes, and olives that the city protects as a culinary treasure, alongside cones of fried Adriatic fish, local cheeses, and cured meats. A glass of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi accompanies the tastings, chosen as the natural partner to the seafood. The €70 price covers all tastings, a local guide, and the wine; it does not include a full sit-down meal or items bought at the market. Groups are kept small, and tours run in English with the guide explaining how stockfish, dried cod from northern seas, became central to a Mediterranean port's cuisine, and how the daily catch reaches the market. Vegetarian substitutions can usually be arranged when requested at booking, though the seafood focus makes a fully vegan version harder. The walk also introduces Ancona's layered history, passing the cathedral on its hill, the Roman arch of Trajan, and the working port that has defined the city for centuries. Comfortable walking shoes are advised, as the route covers the market floor and some of Ancona's sloping streets. Mornings are best for catching the market in full swing. The experience suits travellers who want to understand how a port city eats, beyond the restaurant menu.