PESARO
Pesaro is on the east coast of Italy; it lies on the Adriatic coast in the region of Marche. It is a popular tourist destination and is famous for being the birthplace of the 19th-century opera composer Gioachino Rossini.
A brief history of Pesaro
Although evidence found nearby suggests settlements could have existed at this site from as far back as the Etruscan period, according to the records, the Romans officially founded the city in 184 BC. They named it Pisaurum, and under their rule, the town prospered through trading and was famous for having good craftsman. However, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Pesaro was occupied by the Ostrogoths and subsequently destroyed by Vitigis in 539, during the Gothic War. The Byzantines then rebuilt it five years later when they took control of the city. Following this, there were Lombard and Frankish conquests, and then Pesaro became part of the Papal States. During the Renaissance it was ruled by the houses of Malatesta between 1285–1445, Sforza between 1445–1512 and finally by the Della Rovere family between 1513–1631. The Della Rovere period was when the city added many of its most beautiful and grand buildings. Pesaro was annexed to the new Kingdom of Italy in 1860 when Piedmontese troops entered the city.
Things to do in Pesaro
Hiking on Monte San Bartolos and the natural park is a lovely way to see the landscape. As you get higher into the hills, there are fantastic views of the Adriatic Sea and the gorgeous coastline. The Civic Museum of Palazzo Mosca is worth a visit, it houses works from the Renaissance, Baroque and 20th century. The Villa Imperiale of Pesaro is also fascinating and beautiful, the Della Rovere family commissioned the brilliantly-named painter and architect Girolamo Genga, to transform the former castle into an elegant Villa di Delizia in around 1523. He created an extraordinarily beautiful villa, which over the centuries fell into disrepair; however, a lot of restoration work was carried out on it in the 1970s, and today it’s looking as magnificent as ever! It is now a private residence, but there are tours available to view the frescoed rooms and elaborate gardens. Casa Rossini is the house that Gioachino Rossini was born and grew up in and can also be visited. It features the original layout, and you can get a real sense of the environment in which the young artist grew up. The Ruggeri House is an Art Nouveau villa located in the centre, the Marche. It was constructed between 1902 and 1907 for the pharmaceutical industrialist Oreste Ruggeri and his family as a retreat by the architect was Giuseppe Brega.
Beaches around Pesaro
Spiaggia Di Fiorenzuola di Focara is located 10 KM north along the coast and lies within the national park, it has no amenities, and you have to park your car and then walk for around 25 minutes to reach the beach. South of Pesaro is Chalet A Mare, a vast sandy expanse that is well equipped with umbrellas for rent and restaurants and bars nearby. The beach of Baia di Vallugola, set in a beautiful bay surrounded by high cliffs, has clean waters as well as plenty of establishments available for refreshments along with umbrellas to rent.