- Urbino is a UNESCO-listed Renaissance town and Raphael's birthplace
- Pesaro has long beaches and the Rossini Opera Festival in August
- Gradara castle and Fano are easy day trips
- Bologna airport is often the most practical gateway
- Airports
- Bologna (BLQ), Rimini (RMI), Ancona (AOI)
- Best time to go
- May-June and September
- Type
- Province
The province of Pesaro and Urbino, the northernmost in Le Marche, has two capitals with very different characters. Pesaro is a relaxed seaside city, birthplace of the composer Rossini, with a long sandy beach. Urbino, an hour inland, is one of the most perfect Renaissance towns in Italy, built around the court of Duke Federico da Montefeltro.
Between them are green hills, the Furlo Gorge and truffle country around Acqualagna, plus the old coastal city of Fano. It is an easy add-on to a trip to Bologna or Rimini. See our Italy guide for more.
Things to do
- Palazzo Ducale, Urbino – the duke's palace, home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, with works by Piero della Francesca and Raphael.
- Raphael's house – the house in Urbino where the painter was born in 1483.
- Pesaro – beaches, a lively old town and the Rossini Opera Festival each August.
- Gradara – a beautifully preserved castle and walled village linked to the story of Paolo and Francesca from Dante's Inferno.
- Fano – a Roman arch of Augustus, a fine beach and one of Italy's oldest carnivals.
- The Furlo Gorge – a dramatic limestone gorge on the old Via Flaminia, with a Roman tunnel.
- Acqualagna – a centre for truffles, with fairs in autumn.
- Urbania – a small ducal town known for ceramics.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Urbino | Renaissance atmosphere and a student buzz |
| Pesaro | Beach holidays and the opera festival |
| Fano | A quieter coastal base with a historic centre |
| Countryside villas | Rolling hills between the coast and Urbino |
Getting there
Bologna airport is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes from Pesaro by car or train; Rimini (RMI) is closer but has limited flights, and Ancona is roughly an hour away. Pesaro and Fano are on the Adriatic railway. Buses run from Pesaro to Urbino in roughly an hour; there is no train to Urbino.
Best time to visit
May, June and September suit both the beach and sightseeing. The Rossini Opera Festival is held in August. Autumn brings truffle fairs, especially the white truffle fair at Acqualagna.
Urbino is steep, so wear comfortable shoes and visit the Palazzo Ducale early to enjoy it before groups arrive.
Top attractions in Pesaro and Urbino
LandmarkColosseum
Rome's great amphitheatre, where up to 50,000 spectators once watched gladiator fights, is the city's most iconic sight.
LandmarkFlorence Duomo
Florence's cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi's record-breaking dome, is the symbol of the city, with the bell tower…
NatureMount Etna
Europe's tallest active volcano, with lava fields, craters and sweeping views over eastern Sicily.
NaturePath of the Gods
A spectacular cliff-top trail high above the Amalfi Coast, with views over Positano and out to Capri, that is free to…
LandmarkPompeii
The Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii is the most complete ancient city in the world and an unforgettable…
ViewpointSeceda
A grassy ridge above Val Gardena that drops away in a dramatic wall of jagged peaks, reached by cable car from Ortisei.
Pesaro and Urbino on the map
Frequently asked questions
Why does the province have two names?
Pesaro and Urbino share the role of provincial capital, reflecting the historic importance of both cities.
How do you get from Pesaro to Urbino?
By bus or car, roughly an hour. There is no railway to Urbino.
Is Urbino worth visiting?
Absolutely. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest Renaissance townscapes in Italy.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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