Discover Fano: Roman History, Museums and Local Cuisine

Fano: Roman traces and a centre for discovery

Fano combines Roman urban history with museums, art, maritime cuisine and activities on the water. Fano’s historic centre can be explored on foot; the distances between the squares are short. This allows you to enjoy a varied city walk that combines historic sites, cultural impressions and culinary discoveries.

Ancient routes and digital interpretation

A prominent starting point is the Arco d’Augusto. It was built in 9 AD as the main gate of ancient Fano—at the point where the Via Flaminia overlapped the city’s Decumanus maximus. Next to the arch is the Museo della Via Flaminia. There, an immersive experience presents Fano’s archaeological heritage. Using original digital content and technically sophisticated equipment, the museum presents Roman Fano and the Via Flaminia area. These include touchscreen stations and a large-format presentation of Roman monuments.

Walking tours, chapels and urban history

The guided tour “Alla scoperta di Vitruvio” leads to the Basilica di Vitruvio on Piazza Andrea Costa. It connects the basilica with several important archaeological sites in the city and begins at the Museo del Palazzo Malatestiano. In addition to the tour for adults, DIDAMAR also offers a separate tour for children and hands-on activities during the visit.

Fano’s architectural and artistic history is also revealed in individual locations. The Nolfi Chapel was frescoed between 1618 and 1619 by Domenico Zampieri, also known as Domenichino. The former Church of San Francesco is an open-air monument in Fano’s historic centre. The cathedral church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was rebuilt in 1140 after a fire destroyed its predecessor. These different historical traces give your walk through Fano several layers of time, without requiring you to plan long distances between the squares.

Fanese cuisine and maritime tradition

The local character also includes two specialities with a clear connection to Adriatic seafaring cuisine. Brodetto alla fanese is a traditional fish dish and a typical speciality of Fano. Moretta fanese is a drink made with coffee, rum, anise and cognac, which originated among the sailors and fishermen of Fano’s harbour. Both terms represent a culinary aspect of the city that expresses its maritime character in different ways through a dish and a drink.

Sailing and family-oriented experiences

Those who wish to combine their visit to Fano with an activity on the water can find sailing courses at Club Nautico Fanese G. Viviani. They are led by instructors qualified by the Federazione Italiana Vela. Together with DIDAMAR’s children’s programme, this offers a choice between sporting activities and experience-oriented cultural learning—depending on whether you prefer to discover Fano through its Roman past, local cuisine or shared activities.

More destinations for planning your trip to Italy

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Fano: San Giorgio Di Pesaro, Smirra, Peglio, Borgo Santa Maria, Novilara, Carpegna, Monte Cerignone, Frontino

To the higher-level travel overview: Pesaro - Urbino.