Its capital is the city of Ancona, and the province borders the Adriatic Sea.

[2] To the north, the province is bordered by the Adriatic Sea,[3] and the Apennine Mountains to the west.

[3] Its coastline of sandy beaches is popular with Italians but has not been greatly affected by tourism.

A large area of the province's land is farmland often used for wine production; the province produces wines using the Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and Verdicchio varieties of grape.

Famous people born of the province of Ancona include Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (Iesi);[6] International Gothic painter Gentile da Fabriano (Fabriano); writer Rafael Sabatini (Iesi);[7] composer Gaspare Spontini (Maiolati, which has since been named after him as Maiolati Spontini); composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (Jesi); mathematician and physicist Vito Volterra (Ancona); footballer Roberto Mancini (Jesi); Pope Leo XII (Genga); Pope Pius IX (Senigallia);[8] and actress Virna Lisi (Iesi).