Things to Do and See in Pesaro and Urbino

Pesaro’s main monuments are located in Piazza del Popolo, starting with the Palazzo Ducale and extending to the Civic Museums, which include the Ceramics Museum—the most important in Italy, housing pieces from the most famous Renaissance workshops—and the Art Gallery, featuring works by Giovanni Bellini, Vitale da Bologna, and Guido Reni. Don’t miss the Rocca Costanza, built by Costanzo Sforza between 1474 and 1483, which is the city’s most important fortification, and the house-museum of the famous composer Gioacchino Rossini. In Urbino, a medieval city surrounded by walls erected in the 16th century by the Montefeltro family, we recommend visiting the Palazzo Ducale, an example of a new, more humanistic style of architecture characterized by the geometric rigor of its proportions. The Cathedral was rebuilt after the 1789 earthquake in the Neoclassical style and now houses the Diocesan Museum. From its medieval past, through Renaissance art and architecture, this charming city has rightfully earned its place among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The rest of the province is dominated by medieval villages, often surrounded by walls. Examples include Casteldimezzo, perched high above the sea; Gradara, with walls featuring towers and battlements; and Fiorenzuola di Focara, a picturesque medieval village perched on a cliff. In Fano, we recommend visiting the ancient Arch of Augustus and Palazzo Malatesta, home to the Civic Museum and the Art Gallery.