Fano

For other uses, see Fano (disambiguation).
Fano
Comune
Comune di Fano

Arch of Augustus.

Coat of arms

Fano within the Province of Pesaro-Urbino
Fano

Location of Fano in Italy

Coordinates: 43°50′N 13°01′E / 43.833°N 13.017°E / 43.833; 13.017Coordinates: 43°50′N 13°01′E / 43.833°N 13.017°E / 43.833; 13.017
Country Italy
Region Marche
Province / Metropolitan city Pesaro e Urbino (PU)
Frazioni Bellocchi, Camminate, Carignano, Carrara di Fano, Centinarola, Cuccurano, Falcineto, Fenile, Magliano, Marotta, Metaurillia, Ponte Sasso, Roncosambaccio, Rosciano, Sant'Andrea in Villis, Torrette di Fano, Tre Ponti
Government
  Mayor Massimo Seri (since June 2014) (Center Left Coalition)
Area
  Total 121 km2 (47 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2015)
  Total 61,205
  Density 510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Fanesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 61032
Dialing code 0721
Patron saint Saint Paternian
Saint day July 10
Website Official website

Fano [ˈfaːno] is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 kilometres (7 miles) southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea. It is the third city in the region by population after Ancona and Pesaro.

History

An ancient town of Marche, it was known as Fanum Fortunae[1] after a temple of Fortuna located there. Its first mention in history only dates from 49 BC, when Julius Caesar held it, along with Pisaurum and Ancona. Caesar Augustus established a colonia, and built a wall, some parts of which remain. In 2 AD Augustus also built an arch (which is still standing) at the entrance to the town.

The Castle of Fano in a 19th-century etching. The high watchtower was destroyed during World War II.

In January 271, the Roman Army defeated the Alamanni in the Battle of Fano that took place on the banks of the Metauro river just inland of Fano.

Fano was destroyed by Vitiges' Ostrogoths in AD 538. It was rebuilt by the Byzantines, becoming the capital of the maritime Pentapolis ("Five Cities") that included also Rimini, Pesaro, Senigallia and Ancona. In 754 it was donated to the Popes by the Frank kings.

The Malatesta became lords of the city in 1356 with Galeotto I Malatesta, who was nominally only a vicar of the Popes. Among the others, Pandolfo III resided in the city. Under his son, the famous condottiero Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Fano was besieged by Papal troops under Federico III da Montefeltro, and returned to the Papal administration. It was later part of the short-lived state of Cesare Borgia, and then part of the duchy of the della Roveres in the Marche.

During the Napoleonic Wars it suffered heavy spoliations; the city had an active role in the Risorgimento. In World War I Fano was several times bombed by the Austro-Hungarian Navy. During World War II it was massively bombed by Allied airplanes due to hit the strategic railway and street bridges crossing the Metauro river, suffering also the destruction of all its bell towers by the Nazi occupation troops when they withdrew.

Main sights

Fano's main attractions include:

Outside the city, in the place called Bellocchi, is the church of St. Sebastian (16th century), for the construction of which parts of the ancient cathedral were used.

Culture

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Fano is twinned with:

Notes

  1. Richard J.A. Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World: Map-By-Map Directory I. Princeton, NJ and Oxford, UK: Princeton University Press. p. 609. ISBN 0691049459.
  2. Illustrated in Roberto Weiss, 1969. The Renaissance Discovery of Classical Antiquity, facing p. 151.
  3. http://www.fanoeventi.it/fano-dei-cesari/. Retrieved June 16, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. http://www.viverefano.com/2014/11/19/294-anniversario-della-biblioteca-federiciana-ricerche-e-curiosit-sul-kitab-salat-al-sawai/504874/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fano.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Fanum Fortunae.
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