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 Regions in Italy : Region Marche : Province Pesaro-Urbino: Comune Fano
province of Pesaro-Urbino

Fano (PU)

Region Marche, Italy

An important fishing port and seaside resort along the Adriatic, famous also for its Carnival, is the third most populous town in the region after Ancona and Pesaro. 12 km southeast of Pesaro, Fano located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea, not far from the airport of Falconara, and connected to the A14 highway.

But it is also a very ancient center, with a rich history and important works of art and architecture. The hinterland is made of green hills intensively cultivated with olive trees and vineyards, crossed by the Metauro river; the hills gently rise to the Apennines, rich in truffles, an important ingredient in the local cuisine, together with the typical dry white wine (Bianchello del Metauro).

Info:

Population: ca. 62,000 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 61032 -- Phone Area Code: 0721 -- Patron Saint: San Paterniano celebrated on 10th July Frazioni & Località: Carignano Terme, Marotta, Torrette

History

It was known in Roman times as Fanum Fortunae, and mentioned as one of the towns occupied by Julius Caesar in 49 BC on his march towards Rome. Augustus made it a colony of veterans calling it Iulia Fanestris. After the fall of the Roman empire, it was destroyed by the Goths in 538 AD, then rebuilt and included in the byzanthine Five Seatowns with Ancona, Pesaro, Senigallia and Rimini. In 755 it was occupied by Pipinus, leader of the Franks, and later included in the Church State. In the 12th century it was a free commune, and came under the influence of the Republic of Venice. The commune government gave way to the Signoria of the Malatesta family, until the Montefeltro dukes gave it back to the Church State. Finally in 1860 it was included in the Kingdom of Italy.

What to see

  • The Arch of Augustus, built in 2 AD at the entrance to the town along the via Flaminia.

  • The Medieval-Renaissance center of the town, located around the Piazza XX Settembre, with the "Fontana della Fortuna" in the middle, the Palazzo della Ragione built in 1299 with fine arcade and tower, and inside completely rebuilt in the neoclassical (18th century) style. Through an archway from the Piazza it is possible to enter the Malatesta Palace, with its fine lodge which the tradition says was designed by architect Andrea Sansovina, but actaually a later work, since it bears the date 1544 and the name of Pope Paul III.

  • Two Malatesta sepulchres, of Pandolfo III, made by Leon Battista Alberti, and the other for his wife Paola Bianca iboth under the porch of the Monastery of St. Francis.

  • The Renaissance Church of Santa Maria Nuova, with a richly decorated portal, preserving insidd the painting "Madonna e Santi", by Perugino and Raphael Santius.

    • Events

  • the Fano Carnival, the most ancient in Italy, already mentioned in documents of 1347. According to the legend it celebrated first the reconciliation of two families, the Del Cassero and Da' Carignano. Every year allegorical waggons parade along the streets, throwing candies and bonbons over the crowd. Two unique features of this Carnival are a puppet called "vulon" which represents satirically politicians of the town, and the Band of Arabita Musica, using as instruments tins, coffepots, jugs and similar items.

    • Where to stay:

    		 
    Lodging in the province of Pesaro-Urbino: Hotels, Campsites, Agritourisms, Bed & Breakfasts, Holiday Homes & other Lodgings

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