Property for Sale in Pesaro and Urbino, Le Marche
The Province of Pesaro and Urbino is the northernmost part of Le Marche, bordering Emilia-Romagna, the Republic of San Marino, Tuscany and Umbria. Its coast is a short stretch of the Adriatic between Gabicce and Fano, and behind it the valleys of the Foglia, the Metauro and the Cesano run inland through farmed hills to the Montefeltro and the Apennine peaks of Monte Catria and Monte Nerone.
The homes for sale on this site are mainly at the upper end of the market. Country villas, large houses, rural estates and restored farmhouses make up most of the listings, often with land, pools and views across the hills, and most are priced above €800,000.
Pesaro and the San Bartolo Coast
Pesaro is a seaside city with a long sandy beach, a pleasant historic centre and a strong musical identity as the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini, whose works are performed each summer at the Rossini Opera Festival. Property in and around the city includes apartments, family houses and villas on the hills just inland.
North of the city, the Monte San Bartolo park protects a line of cliffs above the sea between Pesaro and Gabicce. Fiorenzuola di Focara is a tiny walled village on the cliff top, and homes along this coast have open views over the Adriatic. Building is tightly controlled within the park, which keeps the landscape largely undeveloped.
Fano, Cartoceto and the Lower Metauro
Fano was the Roman Fanum Fortunae and still has the Arch of Augustus at the entrance to its old centre, along with beaches on both sides of the town. It is a lively, practical town with good shops and services.
Inland, the hills between the Metauro and the Cesano are farmed with olives, vines and wheat. Cartoceto is known for its olive oil, which has protected status, and Mombaroccio, Orciano and San Lorenzo in Campo are small hill towns surrounded by farmland. This area has a good selection of country houses and villas, many restored from old farmhouses, within easy reach of the coast.
Urbino and the Montefeltro
Urbino is one of the great Renaissance cities of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ducal Palace built for Federico da Montefeltro houses the National Gallery of the Marche, Raphael was born in the town, and the university keeps the centre lively during term.
The countryside around Urbino is one of rolling hills, woods and isolated farmhouses. Fermignano, the birthplace of the architect Bramante, lies just to the south, while Tavoleto sits in the Montefeltro hills towards the Emilia-Romagna border and Mercatello sul Metauro is in the upper Metauro valley near the Tuscan border. Country estates and farmhouses with land are the typical properties here.
Fossombrone, Cagli and the Apennine Valleys
Upstream from Fano, Fossombrone is an old town on the Metauro below the Furlo Pass, where the Via Flaminia passes through a narrow limestone gorge protected as a nature reserve. Cagli lies further along the Via Flaminia, close to Monte Catria and Monte Nerone. This is a quieter, more mountainous part of the province, with stone houses, rural properties and occasionally historic buildings such as castles and towers.
Property and Lifestyle in Pesaro and Urbino Province
Pesaro, Fano and Urbino provide hospitals, schools, shopping and year-round services, and the smaller towns inland have local shops and markets. Many villages are very quiet outside summer.
The province is known for olive oil, truffles from the Acqualagna area, Bianchello del Metauro white wine and the local flatbread, crescia. Beaches, opera in Pesaro, art and architecture in Urbino and walking in the Apennines give a good balance of coast and countryside.
Holiday rental demand is strongest near the coast and around Urbino. Buyers planning to let a property should check registration and licensing rules with the local council before purchase.
Airports and Transport Connections
Ancona Falconara airport is the main airport for Le Marche, and Rimini airport is close to the north of the province. Bologna airport offers a much wider choice of international flights and is reachable by motorway along the coast.
The A14 motorway runs along the Adriatic, with exits for Pesaro and Fano, and Pesaro and Fano are on the Adriatic railway between Bologna and Ancona. A fast road runs inland from Fano up the Metauro valley towards Fossombrone and the Furlo, and Urbino is reached by road from Pesaro and Fano.
A car is essential for almost all country properties.
Buying and Renovating Property in Pesaro and Urbino Province
Country houses and estates often include several buildings and a considerable amount of land. Before signing, have a local surveyor (geometra) confirm that every building, extension and pool matches the cadastral and planning records, and check the permitted use of any outbuilding you plan to convert.
Le Marche lies in a seismic area, so a structural assessment is advisable for older buildings, and recent works should carry the correct certification. Clay hillsides can be prone to landslides, so check the land around the house as well as the house itself.
For rural homes, check road access, including unpaved tracks in winter, the water supply, septic systems, boundaries and rights of way. Agricultural land may be subject to leases or grant obligations, and historic buildings in Urbino and other town centres are subject to heritage controls.
From villas near Pesaro and Fano to farmhouses and estates in the hills around Urbino, the Province of Pesaro and Urbino offers high-quality country property between the Adriatic and the Apennines.