Country Italy Comuni 60 Vehicle registration PU Population 364,896 (31 Jul 2009) University University of Urbino | Region Marche Time zone CET (UTC+1) Area 2,564 km² Capital Pesaro | |
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Telephone prefix 0721 Pesaro
0722 Urbino Clubs and Teams S.S.D. Vis Pesaro 1898 Points of interest Palazzo Ducale - Urbino, Gradara Castle, Furlo Pass, Monte San Bartolo, Galleria Nazionale delle Mar Destinations Urbino, Pesaro, Fano, Gabicce Mare, Gradara | ||
The Province of Pesaro and Urbino (Italian: Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino, [proˈvintʃa di ˈpeːzaro e urˈbiːno]) is a province in the Marche region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pesaro. It also borders the state of San Marino. The province is surrounded by San Marino and Emilia Romagna in the north, Umbria and Tuscany in the west, Ancona in the south and the Adriatic Sea on the east. The province is also known as "Riviera of Hills". It is mostly covered by hills and is popular for its beaches. The Ceramics museum and the Biblioteca Oliveriana are located in the capital city. The County Council is based in Pesaro while the headquarters of the provincial administration are in Urbino. The coat of arms of the province consists of a shield divided into two parts, each part is given the coat of arms of the two capitals. It has a robust economy with low unemployment, based on craft and small and medium industries, agriculture, tourism, resorts and cultural center. It has a very low per capita energy consumption. The art and craft industry contributes to 22% of the province's GDP. Tourism in the province plays a primary role in the local economy, the main attractions are the sea and the Apennines. The beaches of Gabicce Mare, Pesaro, Fano and Marotta are the most famous ones.
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Map of Province of Pesaro and Urbino, Italy
Just outside Pesaro, in the little hamlet of Santa Venerada, close by the chapel Chiostro di Santo Gaetano is the Lucus Pisaurensis, the Sacred Grove of Pisaurum, ancient Pesaro.
History
Early Roman History
Earliest sources of reference indicate a pre-Estruscan settlement in Pesaro. The city was founded as Pisaurum by the Romans in 184 BC as a colony of the Picentes, an early Italic people who lived on the northeast coast of Italy during the Iron Age. However, in 1737, 13 ancient votive stones were unearthed in a local Pesaro farm field, each bearing the inscription of a semone or Roman god; these were written in a pre-Estrucan script, indicating a much earlier occupation of the area than the 184 BC Picentes colony.
Recent History
After the referendum of 2006, seven municipalities of Montefeltro were detached from the Province to join the Province of Rimini (Emilia-Romagna) on 15 August 2009. The municipalities are Casteldelci, Maiolo, Novafeltria, Pennabilli, San Leo, Sant'Agata Feltria and Talamello.
Geography
It has an area of 2,564 square kilometres (990 sq mi) and a total population of 364,896 (2010). There are 67 comunes (Italian: comuni) in the province.
As for May 31, 2005, the main comuni by population are: