The Washington Patrignani Museum: Pesaro’s maritime heritage

A few steps from the port of Pesaro, the Washington Patrignani Maritime Museum  welcomes visitors as a fascinating treasure trove of history and tradition, guardian of the city’s authentic maritime culture. Named after Washington Patrignani, who in the 1980s was a leading collector of objects and memories of everyday life in Pesaro’s seafaring society, the museum, enriched in 2007 with a new historical narrative, is located in Villa Molaroni, an Art Nouveau villa surrounded by a large park with centuries-old trees, near the seafront.

The exhibition offers an engaging journey into the world of seafaring through a rich collection of objects, archaeological finds, period photographs, models of traditional boats, nautical instruments and various artefacts that recount centuries of life at sea. The exhibition is divided into several themed rooms, each illustrating the distinctive characteristics of Pesaro’s maritime identity.

On the first floor, visitors are greeted by a splendid figurehead, found in the mid-19th century from a Pesaro merchant ship following a maritime accident. Nets, instruments, clothing, paintings and charts illustrating routes, trade and maritime adventures allow visitors to take a real step back in time.

Particular attention is paid to ancient coastal and deep-sea trawling techniques, thanks to detailed pictorial reconstructions.

The museum enriches its offering with educational activities for schools, cultural events, book presentations and temporary exhibitions, which fill a busy calendar of initiatives throughout the year.

An authentic witness to Pesaro’s seafaring spirit and a precious guardian of the cultural identity of the area, the “Washington Patrignani” Maritime Museum is the leader of the Pesaro Coast Ecomuseum. From here, you can set off to explore a surprising museum that extends along the symbolic places of the coastal communities of the northern Marche region: Gabicce, Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola di Focara, Pesaro, Fano and Marotta.

The museum also preserves historical and documentary knowledge about the coastal communities, focusing on the role of women in maritime enterprises as well as important evidence for the protection of coastal biodiversity. A true “museum-workshop”, it is a reference point for historical and scientific research, where memory becomes a key to interpreting the present.

The “Washington Patrignani” Museum is easily accessible on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. Opening hours vary according to the season and include special openings for special events. For more information, visit the official website.