Piazza del Popolo is the heart of city life in Pesaro. The square is surrounded on all four sides by public buildings. At its center stands the grand fountain, nicknamed “The Eye of Pesaro”, designed by the famous humanist Bernardino Baldi. The fountain was built in 1593 at the initiative of Francesco Maria della Rovere, and in 1621 it was adorned with dolphin sculptures and other decorations to celebrate the marriage of Prince Federico della Rovere to Claudia of the Medici family.

The Ducal Palace, a Renaissance-style palace, currently houses the offices of the provincial government. It was built by Alessandro Sforza in the mid-15th century on the foundations of a building once owned by the Malatesta family. Inside the palace are numerous works of art and decorative elements.