Province of Pesaro and Urbino

The province of Pesaro and Urbino offers to its visitors many opportunities to enjoy this area rich in art, culture, sea, beautiful nature and great food.

On the 40 km long coastline, known as the "Riviera of the hills," the Blue Flags of Gabicce Mare, Pesaro and Fano, wave as a guarantee of beaches famous for their beauty and quality.

In the hinterland a stunning nature offers magnificent hilly landscapes that lead towards the Apennines. Only in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino there are 3 protected areas of great environmental value, a unique natural heritage, extraordinarily preserved and managed: the Natural Park of Monte San Bartolo, the Natural Park of Sasso Simone and Simoncello and the Natural Reserve of Gola del Furlo.

In this combination between sea and nature one can find old towns centres rich in architectural and historical beauties, abbeys, libraries, museums, castles and historical villas. Three municipalities in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino received the orange Flag: Gradara, Mercatello Sul Metauro and Mondavio.

Urbino is the birthplace of Raffaello, located in the heart of Montefeltro, a UNESCO world heritage site. The city, site of one of the oldest Italian Universities, offers masterpieces such as Palazzo Ducale, which contains the National Gallery of the Marche with the extraordinary works of Piero Della Francesca, Raffaello, Tiziano, and Federico Barocci. Gradara is an ancient medieval village, site of Dante’s famous story of Paolo and Francesca. Mondavio, Sassocorvaro, Cagli and Montecerignone are villages and small villages of great interest even for their exceptional examples of military architecture by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Fonte Avellana, located on the wooded slopes of Mount Catria, boasts the ancient Camaldolite Monastery of the Holy Cross.

And then the small historical town centres and sanctuaries of Colbordolo, Montefabbri village; the Sanctuary of Beato Sante in Mombaroccio; the Castle of Monte Santa Maria; the Convent of Servants of Mary, the Tower of Montegaudio; the Castle of Montelabbate; the Abbey of S. Tommaso in Foglia; the Castles of Farneto, Tavullia and Sant'Angelo in Lizzola.

Throughout the Province one can find examples of artistic handicrafts that have very ancient traditions. The famous pottery of Urbania and Pesaro, the terracotta 'crocks' of Fratterosa, the manual making of pipes and carpets, wrought iron, bamboo, rattan, leather, stone and the goldsmith's art.

The Province of Pesaro and Urbino also offers the opportunity to enjoy moments of comfort and relaxation. There are four SPAS where one can enjoy treatments without giving up a pleasant holiday: the Spa of Carignano, Montegrimano Thermae, Pitinum Thermae and the Terme di Raffaello.

For those who love sports, cycling and nature, the Province of Pesaro and Urbino invites you to discover it pedalling through paths that open up glimpses of incredible interest:  from the azure sea, to the harmonious succession of green hills, to the virgin forests of the Apennines, where renting a mountain bike is a common pastime.

Every town and village in the province of Pesaro and Urbino gets enlivened from spring to autumn by fairs, historical re-enactments and festivals linked to local and famous products such as truffle, protagonist of national fairs at Acqualagna and Sant'Angelo in Vado; all of this in a unique combination of culture, history, and enogastronomy.

Therefore, there are many good reasons to come to visit and experience what is called "the Beautiful Province".