A truly fascinating story and a historical and artistic testimony of great importance, born as a noble residence of the Sforza and transformed into a refined Renaissance residence by the Della Rovere.
Villa Imperiale, “villa of delight”, conceived as a place of otium, culture and representation, where each room tells a story and celebrates the greatness of the Della Rovere family.
A Monument of the Renaissance, whose first brick was laid by none other than an emperor, Frederick III of Habsburg during his visit to Pesaro. Hence the name “Imperial”.
The villa is developed in two main phases: the original part, older and characterized by a tall tower and a porticoed courtyard typical of fifteenth-century villas, and the sixteenth-century extension designed by the architect from Urbino Girolamo Genga between 1523 and 1538 on behalf of the dukes of Urbino Francesco Maria I Della Rovere and Leonora Gonzaga.
This last phase transformed the villa into a refined “villa di delizia”, with open spaces such as Loggias, Terraced Gardens and courtyards, ideal for the rest and otium of the dukes and their guests.
The interior decoration, coordinated by Genga, involved important artists such as Francesco Menzocchi, Raffaellino del Colle, the Dossi brothers and Bronzino, with a pictorial cycle that celebrates themes linked to nature, antiquity, love and the enterprises of Francesco Maria I Della Rovere
Artistic Details and Frescoes
– Fresco cycle of the Piano Nobile
The eight rooms on the first floor are completely frescoed with themes that celebrate nature, antiquity, the love and deeds of Francesco Maria I Della Rovere.
Each room has a specific theme and an allegorical or historical narrative, often with mythological references and moral virtues.
– Oath Room
In the center stands a fake tapestry depicting the oath of the troops to Francesco Maria I, with decorations of grotesques, plant elements, monochrome medallions and cherubs in the lunettes.
The room celebrates the duke as Captain General of the Church, with plant interweavings and landscapes attributed to Camillo Cappelli known as Mantovano.
– Hall of the Labors of Hercules
Painted almost entirely by Raffaellino del Colle, it is dedicated to the heroic and moral virtues, with scenes such as the Calumny of Apelles (where the duke is the protagonist), the apotheosis of the innocent, the three theological virtues (Hope, Faith and Charity) and the figure of Diana Efesia.
– Hall of Judgement and Hall of the Caryatids
These rooms are examples of sumptuously decorated environments, with frescoes that alternate mythological, allegorical and historical themes, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance and magnificence.
– Architecture and Gardens
The villa has a structure divided into two main bodies: the “Palazzo Vecchio” by Alessandro Sforza, with a porticoed courtyard and tower, and the “Palazzo Nuovo” by the Della Rovere family, with loggias, terraces and open spaces designed for court life.
The Italian Gardens, designed by Girolamo Genga, are a work of art in themselves: they develop on multiple levels, with fountains, statues, geometric hedges and an artificial cave, reflecting the Renaissance ideal of harmony between nature and architecture
The Villa Imperiale can be visited only in the summer period, from 17 May to 4 October 2025, every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning, only by reservation allowing you to admire both the exterior with the terraced gardens and the frescoed interiors
Strada dei Cipressi 63
Pesaro
Marche – Italia
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