Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Look beyond the concrete high-rise hotels and the crowds of bronzed holidaymakers jost-
ling for towel space on the beach in August, and you'll find a lot to like about Pesaro.
The town's setting is perfect, with beaches of fine golden sand fringing the Adriatic, a
backdrop of undulating hills, and a pretty old town centred on the cafe-rimmed Piazza del
Popolo, where the Renaissance Palazzo Ducale stands proud. The composer Rossini was
so fond of his home town that he left it all of his possessions when he died (be sure to
check out Casa Rossini while you're here).
Sights & Activities
In 1792 famous composer Rossini was born in a typical Pesaro townhouse that is now the
Casa Rossini
(Via Rossini 34; adult/reduced €4/2, incl entry to Musei Civici €7/3; 10am-1pm &
4-7.30pm Tue-Sun, closed Wed afternoon)
. His mother was a singer, his father a horn player and
the young lad was composing when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. Prints, personal
items and portraits provide an insight into the life of the virtuoso and his operas, such as
the jaunty
Barber of Seville
.
Opened in the 1860s just after Italian reunification, the town's original art gallery is
now the
Musei Civici
(
www.museicivicipesaro.it
; Piazza Toschi Mosca 29; adult/reduced €4/2, incl entry
to Casa Rossini €7/3; 10am-1pm & 4-7.30pm Tue-Sun, closed Wed afternoon)
, which also show-
cases Pesaro's 700-year-old pottery tradition with one of Italy's best collections of majol-
ica ceramics.
Pesaro has four major beach areas - the Blue Flag-awarded
Levante
,
Ponente
,
Baia
Flaminia
and the
free beach
. Levante and Ponente are the jam-packed hotel-fronted
beaches, so for more elbow room head to the free beach
(spiaggia libera)
to the south of
the city, under Monte Ardizio.
Festivals & Events
Rossini Opera Festival
( 0721 380 02 94;
www.rossinioperafestival.it
;
Via Rossini 24; box office 10am-noon & 4-6.30pm
during festival)
This two-week festival in August is a love letter to Rossini. Operas and con-
certs are staged at the Teatro Rossini and Adriatic Arena. Tickets are €20 to €150, with
big student and last-minute discounts.
MUSIC
