Pesaro (Italian: [ˈpeːzaro] ; Romagnol: Pés're) is a comune (municipality) in the Italian region of Marche, capital of the province of Pesaro and Urbino, on the Adriatic Sea. According to the 2011 census, its population was 95,011, making it the second most populous city in the Marche, after Ancona. Pesaro was dubbed the "Cycling City" (città della bicicletta) by the Italian environmentalist association Legambiente in recognition of its extensive network of bicycle paths and promotion of cycling. It is also known as "City of Music" (città della musica), for it is the birthplace of the composer Gioachino Rossini. In 2015 the Italian Government applied for Pesaro to be declared a "Creative City" in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. In 2017 Pesaro received the European City of Sport award together with Aosta, Cagliari and Vicenza.

Pesaro
Pés're (Romagnol)
Città di Pesaro
Flag of Pesaro
Coat of arms of Pesaro
Location of Pesaro
Map
Pesaro is located in Italy
Pesaro
Pesaro
Location of Pesaro in Italy
Pesaro is located in Marche
Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro (Marche)
Coordinates: 43°55′N 12°54′E / 43.917°N 12.900°E / 43.917; 12.900
CountryItaly
RegionMarche
ProvincePesaro e Urbino (PU)
FrazioniBorgo Santa Maria, Candelara, Case Bruciate, Casteldimezzo, Cattabrighe, Chiusa di Ginestreto, Colombarone, Fiorenzuola di Focara, Ginestreto, Monteciccardo, Novilara, Ponte Valle, Pozzo Alto, Santa Maria dell'Arzilla, Santa Marina Alta, Santa Veneranda, Trebbiantico, TrePonti, Villa Ceccolini, Villa Fastiggi, Villa San Martin
Government
 • MayorMatteo Ricci (PD)
Area
 • Total126.77 km2 (48.95 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 (21 October 2011)[2]
 • Total95,000
 • Density750/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
DemonymPesaresi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
61121, 61122
Dialing code0721
Patron saintSt. Terence
Saint daySeptember 24
WebsiteOfficial website
Palazzo Ducale
Rocca Costanza
Musei Civici

Local industries include fishing, furniture making and tourism. In 2020 it absorbed the former comune of Monteciccardo, now a frazione of Pesaro. Its frazione of Fiorenzuola di Focara is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]

History edit

The city was established as Pisaurum by the Romans in 184 BC as a colony in the territory of the Picentes, the people who lived along the northeast coast during the Iron Age.[4][better source needed] In 1737, fourteen ancient votive stones were unearthed in a local farm field, each bearing the inscription of a Roman god; these were written in a pre-Etruscan script, indicating a much earlier occupation of the area than the 184 BC Picentes colony.[4]

A settlement of the Picentes tribe has been found at Novilara. The northern Picentes were invaded in the 4th century BC by the Gallic Senones, earlier by the Etruscans, and when the Romans reached the area the population was an ethnic mixture. The Roman separated and expelled the Gauls from the country.

Under the Roman administration Pesaro, a hub across the Via Flaminia, became an important centre of trading and craftmanship.[citation needed] After the fall of the Western Empire, Pesaro was occupied by the Ostrogoths, and destroyed by Vitigis (539) in the course of the Gothic War. Hastily rebuilt five years later after the Byzantine reconquest, it formed the so-called Pentapolis, part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. After the Lombard and Frankish conquests of that city, Pesaro became part of the Papal States.

During the Renaissance it was ruled successively by the houses of Montefeltro (1285–1445), Sforza (1445–1512) and Della Rovere (1513–1631). Under the last family, who selected it as capital of their duchy, Pesaro saw its most flourishing age, with the construction of numerous public and private palaces, and the erection of a new line of walls (the Mura Roveresche). In 1475, a legendary wedding took place in Pesaro, when Costanzo Sforza and Camilla d'Aragona married.[5]

On 11 September 1860 Piedmontese troops entered the city, and Pesaro was subsequently annexed to the new Kingdom of Italy (see also Battle of Castelfidardo).

Pesaro was significantly damaged in the 1916 Rimini earthquakes.[6] Its historic centre was abandoned after the 16 August earthquake, leaving 14,000 displaced people crowded into 2,000 tents.[7] Many villages in its hinterland also suffered collapsed buildings.[8]

Government edit

Main sights edit

Buildings and museums edit

Churches and other religious buildings edit

Cultural events and attractions edit

Carnival of Pesaro

The Pesaro film festival (Mostra Internazionale del Nuovo Cinema) has taken place in Pesaro since 1965.[12]

The Rossini Opera Festival has taken place every summer since 1980 in Pesaro, home as well as the Conservatorio Statale di Musica "Gioachino Rossini" founded with a legacy from the composer.

Sport edit

Pesaro hosts the home games of Victoria Libertas basketball; they play at the Adriatic Arena, the third biggest Italian indoor arena behind Mediolanum Forum in Milan and PalaLottomatica in Rome.

The city's other professional sports clubs are futsal club Pesaro Calcio a 5, volleyball club Volley Pesaro and football club Vis Pesaro dal 1898.

The city hosted the 2017 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships.

People edit

International relations edit

Twin towns – sister cities edit

Pesaro is twinned with:[13][14][15]

Partnership edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Marche" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "History of Pesaro, Italy".
  5. ^ A Renaissance Wedding: The Celebrations at Pesaro for the Marriage of Costanzo Sforza & Camilla Marzano D'Aragona (26–30 May 1475): (Studies in Medieval and Early Renaissance Art History). Harvey Miller Publ., 2013, ISBN 978-1905375936
  6. ^ "Storia del Terremoto a Rimini" [History of the earthquake in Rimini]. RomagnaZone (in Italian). 27 October 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. ^ "8 dicembre 1916 - Legge speciale per Rimini distrutta dal terremoto" [8 December 1916 – Special law for Rimini destroyed by the earthquake]. Chiamami Città (in Italian). 7 December 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Terremoto del 17.05.1916, Alto Adriatico (Rimini)" [Earthquake of 17 May 1916, High Adriatic (Rimini)]. www.lavalledelmetauro.it. 28 July 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  9. ^ Andrew Hopkins, 2002. Italian Architecture from Michelangelo to Borromini, p.23f.
  10. ^ Hopkins 2002 p 24.
  11. ^ Oliveriano Museum http://www.euromuse.net/en/museums/museum/view-m/museo-archeologico-oliveriano
  12. ^ "Pesaro film festival site".
  13. ^ "Pesaro". italien.de (in German). Italien.de. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  14. ^ "Pesaro". primaria-resita.ro (in Romanian). Reșița. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  15. ^ "Si rafforza il gemellaggio Pesaro-Kakegawa. Cerimonia del tè verde con la delegazione giapponese guidata dal sindaco Saburo Matsui". pu24.it (in Italian). PU24. 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  16. ^ "Collaborazione internazionale". rovinj-rovigno.hr (in Italian). Rovinj. Retrieved 2019-12-22.

External links edit