Description of the attraction
Lazaretto, also known as the Mole Vanvitelliana, is one of the main attractions of Ancona, the capital of the Italian Marche region. It is a huge pentagon-shaped building designed by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli in the harbor area. This is a real self-sufficient "island", connected to the outside world by a small bridge - Lazaretto is separated from Ancona by a small canal. The total area of the complex is about 20 thousand square meters. Inside can fit up to 2 thousand people and a huge number of things. Thanks to the underwater cistern system, the building is completely autonomous in terms of water supply.
The construction of the Lazaretto began in 1733 and was completed only ten years later. In those years, at the beginning of the 18th century, Ancona experienced an economic boom, thanks to the acquisition of the status of a free port. In this regard, Pope Clement V commissioned the architect Vanvitelli to improve the infrastructure of the city's port. The latter completely rebuilt the port, designing a new marina and Lazaretto, which is located on an artificially created island. Its initial task was to protect the health of the residents of Ancona, since people and various goods were placed inside the building during quarantine, as well as those who arrived in the city from the "contaminated" territories were placed here. It was these functions that caused Lazaretto to be isolated from the rest of Ancona. Over time, the powerful complex turned into a defensive structure and a military hospital, then it was used as a sugar factory, and later - tobacco. Finally, in 1997, temporary exhibitions and other cultural events began to be held within the walls of Lazaretto. Part of the building has been placed at the disposal of the unique Museum of Tactile Sensations, all exhibits of which can be touched. In addition, inside Lazaretto, you can still see rooms that were once intended for sanitary procedures, and rooms outside that were used as warehouses.
