From Malatesta, to Sforza, to Della Rovere, the land of the Marches evokes memories of the great families that governed it over the centuries and fed its legends - most famous of all the celebrated kiss of Paolo and Francesca.
Day 1
The City of Rossini
Arrival at Pesaro where we will visit the birthplace of the composer Gioacchino Rossini, now a small museum. Return to the hotel and dinner at the restaurant Lo Scudiero, which serves excellent regional dishes and specialities of Pesaro. Evening walk around the streets of the town. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
2
The Ancient Signoria
After breakfast visit to the Ducal Palace, built for Alessandro Sforza in the second half of the 15th century and now home of the Prefecture. Lunch in a typical restaurant, Da Teresa, then afternoon visit to the city and its monuments, including Rocca Costanza, a magnificent example of military architecture built in the second half of the 15th century by Luciano Laurana. Brief stop at the hotel before dinner at the restaurant Alceo. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
3
From the Sumptuous Imperial Villa to the Austere Rocca di Gradara and Rocca Mondavio
Breakfast at the hotel, then visit to the Imperial Villa, surrounded by a luxuriant pine forest. The two main buildings were erected in the 15th century by order of Alessandro Sforza and completed for the Della Rovere family the following century by Girolamo Genga. Continue to Rocca Gradara, perfectly preserved mediaeval town overshadowed by the Rocca (castle), a square edifice marked by a massive polygonal tower. According to ancient tradition, now disproved, this was the site of the famous kiss between Paolo and Francesca, recounted by Dante in the Divine Comedy. Lunch at the restaurant La Botte. Afternoon spent visiting the Rocca di Corinaldo, Rocca di Loretello and Rocca di Mondavio, the latter built by Francesco di Giorgio Martini between 1482 and 1492 and now home to the Museum of Historical Reenactment. Dinner at the
restaurant La Palomba, at Mondavio, return to the hotel and overnight stay.
4
The Impregnable Coastal Castles
After breakfast, visit to Fano and the Malatesta castle, built in the 15th century by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. The Rocca was long used as a prison but now houses the Museum of Marine Biology. Lunch at the restaurant Da Giulio; afternoon spent visiting the Rocca di Senigallia. Departure as planned.
