Pesaro Things to Do

Famous italian compositior Gioachino Rossini is one of Pesaro’s most famous children. His best known work is the opera “The Barbier of Sevilla” with Largo al factotum (Fiiiiiiigaro…) being the most famous aria. His birthhouse at the Via Rossini is now a museum (Casa Rossini). I did not visit the museum, so I can’t tell you much about that. The house itself is also nice to see: Simple, but still beautiful.

This is the cathedral Basilica, built in the 5th centurry on the sites of a roman sacntuary. At least, I hope that it is the basilica as I can’t remember 100% for sure… The building is of romanic style, but the large entrance door and the small neighbouring arches are obviously gothic. This church is one of the largest in Pesaaro’s old town and surely a very impressive one.

This small church in the old town fascinates with its interesting combination of a pure gothic portal and a venetian-baroque façade. The church was built in 1453 and rebuilt several times. It’s one of only very few exmples coming into my mind, where rebuilding did cause a change but not a heavy aesthetical damage.

Piazza del Popolo is the central square of the town and a typical italian old town square with all its palaces around it. In the center, you will find a beautiful fountain. Finished in 1593, it was destroyed in WWII. After that, the fountain was rebuilt to get back its original appearance.

Close to the Post office palace, you will find another 15th century Sforza family palace. The Palazzo Ducale was always a center of power within the region and is now home to the local authorities. Today, it is one of the largest and most impressive buildings at Piazza del Popolo. This palace is a good example for the transition from gothic architecture into renaissance.

This 15th century renaissance palace was built by the Sforza family which ruled the land for a longer period. For centuries, it was home of the main post office. Now it is used as a conference center.

This square is located between the seashore and the old town, making it a popular place for people to meet and chill out. Nearby cafés and ice cream parlours will provide you with food and drinks, if necessary. The square is dominated by Arnaldo Pomodoro’s sculpture “sfeare grande”, which is the landmark of Pesaro. The artist’s family name gave the sculpture a popular nickname which is “palla del pomodoro” (tomato ball). First placed at the Montreal world exposition in 1967, it found its way back to Italy in 1988, replacing a copy.

La palla del pomodoro means the ball of the tomato! i really have no idea why it was called like this but this is like the most beautiful area in pesaro, you can sit on the benches that over look the sea, and you can buy yourself an icecream from the gelaterie nearby

Piazza Toschi Mosca and its Palace Toschi Mosca hosts the Civic Museums of Pesaro. In the Civic Museums you can browse through one of Italy's finest collections of Renaissance and Baroque pottery, much of it striking for its spontaneous, almost modern, use of colour and design.

The imperious post office buildingis a Renaissance palace, recently restored, was built in the middle of the 15thC by the ruling Sforza family. It now houses local government offices and an exhibition space open to the public.

Further down Via Rossini stands the town's Cathedral; step inside to see the remarkable mosaic floor uncovered in 2000. The beautiful early Christian work dates from the 6th Century and can be admired through glass panels set in the supended modern floor. This vast work of art belongs to the same period as the magnificent Byzantine mosaics at Ravenna. In some points you can also glimpse an even earlier and deeper mosaic floor dating from as early as the 4th Century.

In the "Piazza del Popolo", opposite the Palazzo Ducale there is the Baviera Palace. This building was originally called "The Palaces of the Pages": it was destined by Della Rovere as accommodation for the Court followers. 

Leaving the Piazza del Popolo, along Via Rossini you'll find on your right the modest house where Italy's great opera composer Gioachino Rossini was born in 1792; it is now a small shrine to the composer. You can visit the house (is a small museum) from tuesday to sunday:

tuesday-wednesday 9.30-12.30
thurday-sunday 9.30-12.30, 16-19

The museum is closed on monday
The ticket costs 4 EUROS

Palazzo Ducale, built in a renaissance style, today hosts the prefecture. Erected by Alessandro Sforza during the XV centuries, the Palace (that you can visit only from exterior) appears itself with its portico on Piazza del Popolo, that constitues the center of the town.

Piazza del Popolo is the most important square of Pesaro, also known as "Piazza Grande". Situated in the heart of the town, close to Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo delle Poste and Palazzo Baviera. Today citizens use to meet each other there especially during the afternoon.