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| FOLKLORE, ART, NATURE AND HOSPITALITY |
  
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A temple (Fanum) dedicated to the goddess Fortuna gave its name to the town which boasts very old origins, and which, from the time it was a Roman colony, still preserves visible and important remains. Those dating from Roman Fano include: The Arch of Augustus (9.A.D.),the walls, statues and mosaics. From medieval Fano we may still see high walls and battlements. Subsequent eras have left us the "Palazzo della Ragione" (Law Courts) (XIIIth Century) the Corte Malatestiana (Malatesta Courtyard) home of the Malatesta family who were the Renaissance Lords of the town, the Malatesta Fortress (XVth century), the Malatesta Tombs, the Cathedral (XIIth century) with frescoes by Domenichino; Manor Houses and churches of noteworthy construction. In the Church of S.Maria Nova there are works by Perugino and a Predella attributed to Rafael S.Pietro in Valle is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in the Marche. The Town Museum is situated in the Corte Malatestiana (Malatesta Courtyard), so is the Gallery, which has many works by the Guercino (the well-known "Guardian Angel"), Domenichino, Guido Reni, Mattia Preti and Michele Giambono. The summer cultural appointments in Fano include theatre performance and operas in the Corte Malatestiana and organ concerts in S. Maria Nova. The most original exhibition of folklore is the Carnival (summer and winter) and the "Fano dei Cesari" - a great feast in Roman costume with chariot races. The Carnival has very old origins and a unique characteristic - throwing tons of sweets to the crowd from allegorical floats. The various Festivals, include the Feast of the Sea, country Feast , with abundant food and wine and dancing with music by the "Arabita" orchestra, an imaginative orchestra from Fano. During summer there are many regattas and surfing competitions, there are also tennis and beach-volleyball tournaments, swimming galas, competitions for fishing, clay-pigeon shooting, model aeroplanes, athletics, gymnastics, skating, carting, bowling, cycling and judo. You can do your shopping in lovely shops and tempting craftsmen workshops, in particular goldsmiths, a very highy esteemed occupation even at an international level. There are also market-fairs such as the one for antiques. For sporting activities there are: gymnasiums, swimming pools, athletic tracks, base-ball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, roller-skating rinks, a go-cart track, clay pigeon shooting range, bowling alleys, an aeroplane club, and nautic and yachting clubs. As far as food is concerned, seafood is very popular as are the "vincisgrassi" (Lasagne); "pannociati" (nut breads), and "crescia di Pasqua" (Easter cheesebread), tripe, "porchetta" (spiced roast pork), all accompanied by the most prestigious of local wines; the "Bianchello del Metauro", and a "moretta" digestive to finish. Fano is 12 Km from Pesaro, 49 Km from Ancona, 290 Km from Rome. The train station is on the Milan-Bologna-Ancona-Bari-Lecce line. The A/14 (Bologna-Taranto) motorway gives easy access to the town, as does the Fano-Grosseto n.16 Adriatica state freeway, and the Via Flaminia (to and from Rome). There is an international airport at Miramare near Rimini (43 Km), and a national airport at Falconara (38 Km). The Fano airport is only for light aircraft.
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