Ducal Palace of Pesaro, Renaissance palace in Piazza del Popolo, Pesaro, Italy.

The Ducal Palace is a Renaissance building on Piazza del Popolo, begun by Alessandro Sforza in the mid-15th century on a Malatesta core and completed by the Dukes of Urbino. Its facade has a six-arch portico on rusticated piers and five upper windows crowned with coats of arms, festoons and putti. The right side keeps a Gothic portico arch and two upper windows without crowning.

The building was remodeled and expanded over two centuries by different ruling families who each left their mark on its structure. The current form took shape under the Sforza family, who made it their center of power.

This was a place where Renaissance artists created their works and rulers displayed their power through richly decorated rooms. Visitors can still experience how such spaces shaped the artistic life of the city.

The building sits on the main square of town and is easy to reach, but visiting requires advance planning. Check ahead about opening times, as access is limited to specific occasions.

The right side of the palace, the only one visible, keeps a Gothic arch at the end of the portico, while the upper floor has two large windows without the crests that crown the facade. The fireplace in the audience hall, by Federico Brandani, shows chariot races around the Rovere walls.