The region with the capital Ancona is located in the middle of Italy on the Adriatic coast. Starting from the north, it is bordered by the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo. Already the Celts and later the Etruscans cultivated wine here. In the 3rd century BC the Romans conquered the area. The Roman wine author Pliny the Elder (23-79) mentioned the ancient wine Praetutium from Ancona. It is said that the Visigoth king Alarich (370-410) strengthened his troops with the white wine Verdicchio during his campaign against Rome. The famous local doctor and naturalist Andrea Bacci (1524-1600) reports that the commander Hannibal (247-183 B.C.) from Carthage revived the tired horses of his army with a large quantity of Conero wine (forerunner of the DOC Rosso Conero) during the campaign against Rome.