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'Fossombrone' is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Pesaro e Urbino (Marche, Italy).

Contents

History

Main sights

Sports

References

History

The ancient Roman colony of '''Forum Sempronii''' took its name from Caius Sempronius Gracchus.
Near the Furlo Pass, during the Gothic War, was fought (552) the battle of Taginae, in which Totila was overcome by the Byzantine general, Narses.
Fossombrone was included in the Donation of Pippin, but remained subject to the Duchy of Spoleto until 1198, when it passed under Papal rule. the Malatesta sold it to the famous Federico III da Montefeltro, under whom the city flourished. Also positive for the city was the reign of the della Rovere dukes, who enlarged it (especially Francesco Maria II expanded the settlement in the lower area up to the Metauro river). In 1631 it returned to the Papal States, being annexed to Italy in 1860.

Main sights

The city and its environs abound in antiquities, especially inscriptions. Noteworthy remains are the statue of the god Vertumnus; the Furlo Pass, constructed by the Emperor Vespasian to shorten the passage of that mountain; and the bridge of Trajan (115) near Calmazzo, and that of Diocletian (292), both over the Metaurus.
Other points of interests include:

★ Church of ''Sant'Agostino'' (14th century, enlarged in the 18th century). It has a hut-like facade with the coat of arms of the House of Malatesta. The interior hosues a canvas by Federico Zuccari.

★ Ducal Palace, attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini and Girolamo Genga, and built for Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, brother of the Duke Guidobaldo II. Notable are the Renaissance court and the Cardinal's chapel.

★ The 16th century ''Corte Bassa'', a residence of the Dukes of Urbino. The ''Corte Bassa'' is instead from the 13th century, and was later renewed under Federico da Montefeltro with a notable Renaissance façade and pavement. The duke Guidobaldo I soujourned here frequently, and also died here.

★ ''Palazzo Comunale'' (Town Hall, 16th century).

★ ''Palazzo Vescovile'' ("Bishop's Palace", built from 1479). It has a Renaissance façade with a portico and a ''Crucifixion'' fresco attributed to Bartolomeo di Gentile (1493).

★ The Cathedral was almost entirely rebuilt in Neo-Classicist style by Cosimo Morelli in 1776-1784, but has maintained some Renaissance works in the interior.

★ Ruins of the ''Rocca Malatestiana'' (13th-15th centuries).

Sports

★ FC Fossombrone: famous for its total look and the uniform produced by Dirk Bikkembergs, a Belgian fashion designer.

References

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