Info:
Altitude: 11 m a.s.l --
Population: ca. 92,000 inhabitants
-- Zip/postal code: 61100
-- Phone Area Code: 0721
-- Patron Saint: San Terenzio celebrated on 24 September
-- Frazioni & Località: Borgo Santa Maria, Candelara, Casteldimezzo, Case Bruciate, Cattabrighe, Ginestreto, Chiusa di Ginestreto, Colombarone, Fiorenzuola di Focara, Novilara, Ponte Valle, Pozzo Alto, Santa Maria dell'Arzilla, Santa Marina Alta, Santa Veneranda, Trebbiantico, Tre Ponti, Villa Fastiggi, Villa Ceccolini.
-- GPS Coordinates: 43.55 N - 12.54 E
-- Useful links: official website of the Comune www.comune.pesaro.pu.it
History
Founded by the Romans in 184 BC as Pisaurum, in the vicinity of a former settlement of the Piceni, Novilara on the Ardizio mountain, one of the most ancient center of the Piceni, located along a stream not far away from the sea, and the only Picenian harbor with Numana and Ancona.
In the 4th century AD Marches was invaded by the Gauls, and at the time of the Roman occupation two centuries later the population was a mixture of Gauls and Piceni. In Roman times Pisaurum was a busy merchant and trade center, connected to Rome through the Via Flaminia. After the fall of the Roma Empire in 476 AD Pesaro was one of the byzanthine Five Seatowns with Ancona, Fano, Senigallia and Rimini, under the rule of the Governor of Ravenna. With the Frankist invasion of mid-8th century AD Pesaro was included in the Church State.
In the late Middel Ages and Renaissance the town was under the Malatesta (1285-1445), Sforza (1445-1512) and Della Rovere (1513-1631), who chose Pesaro as their capital and greatly encouraged art and culture, and built walls to defend the town against sea raids.
What to see
the Palazzo Ducale, built under Alessandro Sforza in the second half of the 15th century, with a typical facade on six arches supported by huge pillars.
The Cathedral built on an ancient church of the 5th century AD, originally consecrated to an unknown Saint, then renamed to San Terenzio in 1447, when the saints relics were placed under the main altar. During restoration works in 1865 an ancient mosaic floor, covering 900 square meters, was uncovered, and is today one of the jewels of the town.
the Rocca Costanza, a 15th century fortress with round towers at the corners and a wide ditch around.
near the Palazzo Ducale, the native home of composer Gioacchino Rossini, hosting today a Rossini museum with prints, manuscripts, paintings, and the original instrument used by the composer.
The Civic Museum in piazza Toschi-Mosca, including a Ceramic Museum and Pinacoteque, with the magnificent "Pala di Pesaro" by Giovanni Bellini (nicknamed Giambellino).
the Museo and Biblioteca Oliveriani, preserving precious archeological items and illuminated manuscripts.
Map of Pesaro:
(use the zoom to enlarge and the arrows or your mouse pointer to move around, or see a larger map of Pesaro)
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