Pes'aro

Pes'aro (the ancient Pisaurum), a town of Italy, stands on the right bank of the Foglia, here crossed by a bridge of Trajan's age, 1 mile from the Adriatic and 37 miles NW. of Ancona by rail. Its streets are broad, and adorned with palaces and churches, and the town is surrounded with walls and defended by a citadel (1474) and a fort. It is a bishop's seat; there are two cathedrals, one new, the other old. Silks, pottery, iron, and leather are manufactured; and an active trade is carried on in these goods and in wine, olive-oil, and fruits. Pop. 12,547. The city is associated in literary history with the name of Tasso, some of his MSS. being preserved in one of the town museums; it is also the birthplace of Rossini. Made a Roman colony in 184 B.C., it was destroyed by the Goths; then, having been rebuilt by Belisarius, it became one of the Pentapolis. From 755 to 1285 it belonged to the popes, then to the Malatestas till 1445, then to the Sforzas and Delle Roveres, in 1631 again to the popes, and finally in 1860 to Italy.