San Ciriaco Fair

The fair that tells the story of Ancona

The San Ciriaco Fair is much more than a large market: it is the popular event that, every first of May, reconnects Ancona with its history and its patron saint. In the heart of the Marche capital, along Viale della Vittoria, Corso Stamira, and Corso Garibaldi, hundreds of stalls parade, transforming the city into one long promenade filled with scents, colors, and the voices of vendors from all over Italy. It is the traditional "May fair," linked for centuries to the feast of San Ciriaco, the bishop and martyr venerated as the city's protector.

San Ciriaco, the patron saint of Ancona

The fair takes its name and dates from the patron saint, celebrated on May 4th, the day after the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross. According to tradition, Ciriaco stopped in Ancona during a pilgrimage to Rome, later becoming its bishop: his remains rest in the evocative Cathedral of San Ciriaco, which overlooks the city from Guasco hill. On the morning of May 4th, the fair gives way to the religious celebrations dedicated to the saint, a moment of deep reflection that coexists with the joy of the street festival.

A "sea to sea" route

The slogan accompanying the event is "sea to sea": the route crosses the city, ideally connecting the two shores of the sea that embrace Ancona. It starts from Viale della Vittoria with the traditional fair — about 400 exhibitors offering clothing, household items, trinkets, and products of all kinds — and leads to Piazza Cavour, which hosts the trade fair, crafts, and the gastronomic area. Piazza Pertini is dedicated to street food and amusement park rides, while Piazza Cavour also features the stand of CO.GE.VO., the consortium of clam fishermen, offering seafood specialties from the Ancona coast.

Taste, music, and tradition

Alongside shopping, the San Ciriaco Fair is a major event for food lovers and entertainment. The street food stalls in Piazza Cavour offer street food and local products, while evenings feature alternating live concerts and DJ sets that liven up the city center until late. The atmosphere is that of a large village festival transplanted into the city: families, groups of friends, and curious visitors stroll among the stalls, taste the food, listen to music, and get caught up in the festive spirit.

An event by the Municipality of Ancona

The event is organized by the Municipality of Ancona through its subsidiary company Ancona Servizi, which has managed it since 2025 and has renewed the fair's image with a new logo inspired by the lion on the portal of the Cathedral of San Ciriaco. The San Ciriaco Fair remains one of the identity events of the Marche capital, capable of uniting the religious, commercial, and popular dimensions into one grand city celebration that officially kicks off the warmer season.