Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is Pesaro's principal civic square, framed by Palazzo Ducale and later public buildings. The central fountain preserves a history of ducal patronage, alteration and reconstruction.

Why it matters

The square connects the city's Renaissance court with its civic institutions. Its fountain served practical needs as well as providing a setting for dynastic imagery.

What to notice

The fountain combines pale Istrian stone and red Veronese marble with sculptural decoration. Masks and dolphins belong to different stages of its design. Palazzo Ducale's portico gives the surrounding architecture a strong ceremonial character. The later town hall adds a twentieth-century element to the ensemble.

Context and history

Guidubaldo II della Rovere enlarged the square in the sixteenth century. The fountain followed between 1588 and 1593 under Francesco Maria II. Additions in 1605 and 1621 marked family events, and Lorenzo Ottoni reworked the monument in 1684–1685. Destruction during the Second World War was followed by reconstruction in 1960. The resulting fountain combines the memory of its earlier form with the city's post-war recovery.