Pesaro, Coastal town in Marche, Italy
Pesaro is a coastal town in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino in Marche, stretching from the Adriatic Sea to wooded hills inland. The town centre clusters around medieval streets and Renaissance palaces, while to the north lies the wide sandy beach and to the south the fishing harbour with its breakwater.
Romans founded the settlement in 184 BC as a colony called Pisaurum, which during the Middle Ages came under the rule of the Malatesta family and later the della Rovere dukes. During the Renaissance the town became a residence and received fortifications, palaces and churches that still shape the townscape today.
The town takes its name from ancient Pisaurum and locals still call themselves Pesaresi, while the old centre shows palaces built from red brick. Along the seafront promenade families gather for evening walks and in the harbour fishing boats are moored with their daily catch sold directly on the quay each morning.
The central square serves as a starting point for exploring and from there the old town and the beach promenade can both be reached on foot in a few minutes. Most buildings in the pedestrian zone are accessible at ground level while the beach can be reached via flat ramps and bicycle rentals are available for rides along the coast.
Composer Gioachino Rossini was born here in 1792 and his birthplace in Via Rossini can be visited today, displaying handwritten scores and personal belongings. Every August the town transforms into a stage during the opera festival where his works are performed in historical theatres and outdoors.
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