The Marche town of Fano, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino (and just a short distance south of the Emilia Romagna region) stands on the Adriatic coast at the mouth of the River Metauro, only a stone's throw away from the Marche countryside. It is linked by an excellent road and rail network from the north and south, with the SS.16 Adriatic Coastal road, the A14 motorway and the Bologna-Ancona mainline railway. Rome can be reached easily along the SS.3 Via Flaminia with a rail connection via Falconara and Orte. Fano is 45 kilometres away from Raffaello Sanzio Airport at Falconara (Ancona) where there are daily flights to and from many national and international destinations. Distances from the main cities (km): Rome Venice Bologna Urbino 289 250 161 50 Milan Florence Assisi Ancona 372 208 131 48
			Fano is ideal as a centre for exploring cities rich in history and art. The splendid Renaissance city of Urbino is only 50 kilometres away while other nearby towns include Gradara Castle (where the famous love affair between Paolo and Francesca da Rimini reached its tragic end), the impregnable fortress of San Leo where Count Cagliostro died in prison, the city of Pergola which houses a unique group of Gilded Bronze statues and the Frasassi caves with its tour through extraordinary caves of stalagmites and stalactites. For pilgrims, there is also the famous Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary at Loreto, one of the major pilgrimage destinations during the year 2000 Jubilee and, a short distance away, the Umbrian city of Assisi, where St Francis was born.
			Known as Fanum Fortunae in Roman times, the city today is a fairly well-known coastal resort and one of the most important Adriatic fishing ports. Fano is a tourist destination for those looking for quality of life, with a first rate cultural, historical and environmental heritage, enabling visitors within a distance of a few kilometres to enjoy the sea as well as the delightful hilly inland countryside. The port divides the coast of Fano into two, with Sassonia beach to the east and the sandy Lido to the west. A number of other wide beaches and small bays are to be found along the coast on both sides of the town at Fosso Sejore, Metaurilia, Torrette and Marotta and provide welcoming natural environments the tourist.