The Arch of Trajan is an elegant Roman work erected in 116 A.D. in honour of the emperor who, at his own expense, had the port of the city enlarged, building the pier for his protection.
This work is attributed to Apollodorus of Damascus, the same architect who signed the project for the grandiose Forum of Trajan in Rome.
It was from here that Trajan left for the victorious war against the Dacians: the arch, located at the access point to the city, reminded his enemies of the defeat he had suffered.
Tradition has it that on the attic there was the equestrian statue of Trajan with on the right that of his wife Plotina and on the left that of his sister Marciana.
The holes and recesses that can be seen between the columns were used to fix bronze rostrums of ships that had disappeared over the centuries.
Even in the past the splendour of the monument was appreciated and in the 18th century every captain of a bastion who landed in Ancona had to pay 60 baiocchi for its preservation.
