Pesaro, Italy is a charming seaside town located on the Adriatic coast, in the Le Marche region. Between the Apennine Mountains and the sea, Pesaro offers beautiful golden beaches, wild nature reserves, historical sites, public parks and art museums.
Founded as a Roman colony in 184 BC. C., Pesaro became an important commercial center along the Via Flaminia, an ancient road that leads from Rome to the Adriatic coast. During the Renaissance, the ruling families chose the city as the capital of their royal duchy, which explains why today, it still has a large number of elegant villas and grandiose palaces.
With a population of just under 100,000, the city is the second largest city in Le Marche. An important center for music, art and culture, Pesaro is probably best known as the birthplace of the composer Gioachino Rossini.
Here are our picks for the best things to do on your visit to Pesaro.
01
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Stroll through the Piazza del Popolo
Direction
Piazza del Popolo, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Web
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Surrounded by the town hall, a post office, municipal buildings, and the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Pesaro’s main square surrounds the 17th-century fountain, which was restored in 1960 after being destroyed in World War II. The pavement within the plaza is etched with strips of white stone. Located at the intersection of Via San Francesco, Corso XI Settembre, and a section of Via Flaminia, a remnant of the Roman city forum, the square has been the political center of the city since the Middle Ages. The Doge’s Palace was built around 1450 and expanded in 1621 with the marriage of Federico Ubaldo Della Rovere with Claudia de Medici. At the same time, a group of bronze dolphins was added to the fountain.
02
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Explore the Civic Museum of Palazzo Mosca
Direction
Viale Mosca, 29, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0721 387541
Web
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Located in Piazza Mosca, this main civic museum in Pesaro contains an impressive collection of Renaissance ceramics, decorative works of art, and Giovanni Bellini’s paneled altarpiece, the “Coronation of the Virgin” (circa 1470).
03
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Visit Casa Rossini
Direction
Via Gioacchino Rossini, 34, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0721 387357
Web
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The birthplace of composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was recently expanded to add space on the second floor to display documentation of Rossini’s works, prints, prints, cartoons, and other memorabilia. The portrait gallery stands out with an impressive number of engravings arranged in chronological order, from youth to old age, including a drawing by Gustave Doré depicting Rossini on his deathbed. Rossini’s operas, among which “The Barber of Seville” is the most famous, are presented at a music festival that takes place in the city every August.
04
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Tune in to the Rossini Conservatory
Direction
Piazza Olivieri, 5, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0721 33671
Web
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Based in the majestic Palazzo Olivieri, this conservatory of higher education was established in the early 19th century. The highlights of the complex include a large concert hall and an inner courtyard with a bronze statue of Rossini by Carlo Marochetti. Inside the palace there are three important halls: the Gallery of Illustrious Men and Women of Pesaro, the Sala dei Marmi with a cycle of impressive frescoes and Tempietto Rossiniano, which has a piano built in Venice in 1809. There are also precious souvenirs and autographed manuscripts by the teacher himself.
05
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Enjoy the gardens of Orti Giuli
Direction
Via Belvedere, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Developed in the early 1800s, the Orti Giuli was Italy’s first public park. Designed in neoclassical style, it is located in the city center along the Foglia River and a short distance from the Adriatic. The peaceful green space is popular in the summer months, when it is the scene of festivals and cultural events in the summer months. At any time of the year, it is a pleasant walk in good weather.
06
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Dip your toes in the sand on a blue flag beach
The Adriatic coast near Pesaro boasts a number of blue flag beaches, a designation awarded based on the quality of the water and the cleanliness of the beach. The Adriatic coast is already a very popular summer destination for Italians, with beaches lined with stables or beach bars, where customers can rent sun loungers and umbrellas.
07
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Walk the ramparts in Rocca Costanza
Direction
Piazzale Giacomo Matteotti, 22, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0721 359424
Web
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About 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Pesaro is the hilltop village of Gradara, where you can tour Rocca Costanza, a fortress with cylindrical stone towers in a quadrilateral design. Commissioned in the 15th century by Constanzo Sforza, the fort was said to be the setting for Paolo and Francesca’s love story in Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” Going through various machinations over the centuries, at one point the fort was acquired by Cesare Borgia, who employed Leonardo da Vinci to design a moat. Rocca served as a prison from 1864 to 1989, and currently hosts summer concerts and open-air theater events.
08
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Hike through the Parco Naturale Monte San Bartolo
Direction
Province of Pesaro y Urbino, ItalyGet directions
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Parco Naturale Monte San Bartolo was established in the 1990s to conserve the delicate cliff and beach ecosystems along the North Adriatic coast. This tranquil nature park boasts panoramic sea views and an abundance of birds and wildlife, plus the reserve has some notable archaeological sites of Neolithic, Greek, and Roman origin. Much of the park is accessible on foot via trails that take hikers through charming villages, medieval villas, and gardens. Many roads lead to the sea.
09
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Wander Villa Imperiale Pesaro
Direction
Str. Dei Cipressi, 63, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
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Named after the 15th century Emperor Frederick III (the last emperor to be crowned by the Pope in Rome), this splendid palatial home and Mannerist garden complex was once the summer grounds of dukes, duchesses, and their upper-class friends. . Built during the late Renaissance, today the villa is still a private residence. Tours can be booked on Wednesday afternoons in June through mid-September.
10
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Contemplate the Large Sphere by A. Pomodoro
Direction
Piazzale della Libertà, 61121 Pesaro PU, ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0721 387445
Web
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This brilliant bronze sculpture of a deconstructed sphere was completed by the Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. Float on the surface of a reflecting pool in Piazzale della Libertà. Over the years, the world has become a favorite meeting point for those heading to the beach. Chosen in 1998, the original work can be found in front of the entrance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.
eleven
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Watch the hawks soar at Il Teatro dell’Aria
Direction
Walk of Lovers, 61012 Gradara PU, ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 342 768 3929
Web
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Dedicated to the ancient art of falconry, Il Teatro dell’Aria (open air theater) is an environmental education park that young and old alike can enjoy. Located within the medieval fortress of Gradara, it was founded by a professional falconer. Live demonstrations of flying predators are featured in the morning and evening, and falconry workshops are also offered.
