Introducing Pesaro

Geographically the town of Pesaro is practically perfect. Its beachfront locale adds to the beauty of its winding, ancient pedestrian zone and backdrop of undulating hills. It's too bad that tens of thousands of Speedo-clad northern Europeans come here for five months out of the year to do a sardine impression on the beach, and that this beach is backed by a Soviet-looking strip of high-rise concrete hotels. However, the charming historical centre deserves an entire day to wander, and the composer Gioachino Rossini loved his home town so much he willed Pesaro all of his possessions when he died (be sure to check out Casa Rossini while you're here).