On Route 16, 40 km south east of Rimini. Tourist developments spread inland from a shallow sea to a town of historic palazzi and stately churches. The Rocca Costanza, a 15thC fort in the town walls, is now a prison. The ducal palace and Piazza del Popolo are major sights. Pesaro was a majolica centre and its civic museum has a lavish collection of mosaics and ceramics. The house of Rossini and an annual opera festival (August) pay homage to the illustrious bel canto citizen.

Detour – Fano

On Route 16, 12 km south east of  Pesaro. It has its Augustan arch, its Malatesta palace and a 12thC loggia; also two beaches, one sanday and one shingly, with all the usual amenities and a yacht harbour. There’s a road connection with Urbino inland on a steep, slow but outstandingly attractive route.