Around Pesaro
Villa Imperiale in Pesaro: the Della Rovere villa on San Bartolo hill
Updated 6 November 2026. Villa Imperiale is one of the best-known Renaissance residences near Pesaro: Mannerist frescoes, gardens and the story of two families, the Sforza and the Della Rovere. This guide gives you its history in brief and, above all, how to find out when you can visit, because it is private property open only for guided tours in summer.
A villa on San Bartolo hill
Villa Imperiale stands on the San Bartolo hill, a few kilometres from the centre of Pesaro, on Strada dei Cipressi. It was built in the second half of the fifteenth century by Alessandro Sforza and enlarged in the sixteenth: its history is told on the villa's website, while a short overview is on Italia.it (in Italian).
From the Sforza to the Della Rovere
After 1513 Pesaro passed to the Della Rovere, and the villa had its most important moment. According to the official website, Duke Francesco Maria Della Rovere, back from exile in 1522, moved his capital to Pesaro, and the villa was conceived as a gift from Eleonora Gonzaga to her husband, a place to rest after the hardships of battle.
For this reason the duke had a new wing built from 1523, designed by the Urbino architect Girolamo Genga. It is the best-known part of the villa and the one that makes it an example of a Renaissance country residence.
The frescoes
The rooms of the sixteenth-century part hold a cycle of brightly coloured Mannerist frescoes commissioned by Genga. They are the main reason to visit: the interiors are explained by a guide during the tour, which also includes the gardens.
Why it is called "Imperiale"
The name recalls an imperial visit and the laying of a first stone, but sources disagree on the date and the emperor: some speak of a first stone in 1452, others of Frederick III of Habsburg as a guest of the Sforza in Pesaro in 1468. So when you read a precise date, take it with some caution.
How to visit
Villa Imperiale is private property, still a residence today, and not a museum that opens every day. It can be visited only in summer, with paid guided tours by reservation. For 2026 the official website indicated the period from 30 May to 3 October, on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings: the season is over, so for next year check dates and times on the official website, where you book.
You will not find hours or prices here, because they change: the only source to trust is the villa's website.
What to combine in one day
The story of Pesaro's rulers is best followed in instalments. The Della Rovere court was centred on the Ducal Palace and Piazza del Popolo, while the Sforza left Rocca Costanza. If you want to move around the hill, the San Bartolo Panoramic Road is the natural route.
Starting from Cortirola
Cortirola Luxury Apartment is at Via Cortirola 8, in Pesaro. The villa is on the hill, outside the old town: before you leave, open the map and work out the route to Strada dei Cipressi, bearing in mind that the visit is guided and starts at a fixed time you must keep.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Villa Imperiale in Pesaro?
On the San Bartolo hill, a few kilometres from the centre of Pesaro, on Strada dei Cipressi. Work out the route with a map before you leave.
Who built it?
It was built in the second half of the fifteenth century by Alessandro Sforza and enlarged in the sixteenth. The best-known wing was designed by Girolamo Genga, from 1523, for the Della Rovere.
When can you visit?
Only in summer, with paid guided tours by reservation. For 2026 the official website indicated the period from 30 May to 3 October, Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. For next year, check dates and times on the villa's website.
Can you go in without booking?
No: according to the official website the visits are guided and by reservation. The villa is private property and is not open every day.
What do you see during the visit?
The rooms with the sixteenth-century Mannerist fresco cycle and the gardens, with a guide telling the history of the villa.
Read next: Cortirola Luxury Apartment · Ducal Palace and Piazza del Popolo · Rocca Costanza · San Bartolo Panoramic Road · All guides