Will be spending one or two nights in Ancona prior to our journey to Urbino. Any thoughts on a good hotel or B&B in Ancona would be appreciated.

Jackie in Italy, where are you ? your specific information is needed!

Sorry, not Ancona, but I have stayed a couple of times at Hotel Monte Conero atop that prometory. Its an hour or so south of Ancona. A converted monastery with a good kitchen.

Yes, we have also enjoyed the Hotel Monteconero and would rate it highly.
The neaest own is Sirolo which is charming with a wonderful beach down below. Two great restaurants in the vicinity: Sara's right in Sirolo (take cash-they don't do credit cards) and Malko's (half way down the hill from the hotel).

I stayed at the Jolly Miramare in Ancona. It is right above (on a little bluff overlooking the port) the Porta Pia by the pentagonal ex-lazaretto building. Jolly (google Jolly Hotels and look for Ancona on their website) is a reasonably priced chain hotel in Italy. Good air conditioning & restaurant. The rooms are a nice size for Europe; the decor Marriott style. Definitely not "Italian quaint." We walked easily (less than 10 minutes) to the central part of the old city for dinner at La Moretta in a pedestrian-only piazza, so the hotel's location was nice for us. If you have a car, they have their own parking. If you don't, taxis are easy to get and walking is a good option for the port & old town. We enjoyed watching the ferries pull in & out of the port from our room, and some rooms have great views of the Duomo on one of the city hills. If I returned to Ancona, I'd stay here again. Other option for me would be the Palace, next to the Muse theater.

Attn: LJ, eliztrav and DRJ,
Have been out of station since my request.
Thanks to you all for advice on Hotels and restaurants in Ancona.

Rosser-you are very welcome...loved the phrase "out of station..." haven't heard that since my cousin (foreign service-UK) left her job...perhaps this TTT will draw out Jackie in Italy, she does know this part of the country intimately-we have been gone from there for 2 1/2 years now and things change.