Pesaro

Resort town and capital of Pesaro e Urbino province in Le Marche region, east-central Italy, 60 km/37 mi northwest of Ancona. It is situated at the mouth of the River Foglia, on the Adriatic coast; population (1990 est) 90,300. There are fishing, furniture, motorcycle, ceramics, and textile industries, and the town is a commercial centre for agricultural products (cereals, vegetables, cattle) from the interior. Tourism is also important.

Pesaro has a 15th-century ducal palace of the ruling Sforza family and a cathedral. There is also a music school founded by the composer Gioacchino Rossini, who was born here in 1792.

The town has a notable municipal museum and the Oliveriana Museum, with an interesting archaeological collection.