Candles Under the Stars

The most magical night of the Pesaro summer

Candles Under the Stars is the symbolic event of Ferragosto on the coast of Pesaro, in the heart of the province of Pesaro and Urbino, in the Marche region. Every year, on the night of August 10th dedicated to San Lorenzo, the Pesaro coastline turns off its electric lights and lights up with thousands of candles: a luminous carpet running along over ten kilometers of beaches, from the city center to the Riviera of the Monte San Bartolo Natural Park, also involving the neighboring municipalities of Gabicce Mare and Gradara.

A coastline lit by thousands of flames

Over twenty quintals of wax outline the profile of the coast: participating beach establishments forgo electric lighting and entrust the atmosphere to candles alone, while bathers and visitors gather on the sand for dinners, picnics, and aperitifs strictly in white attire. It is the so-called night of wishes, where one awaits the passage of shooting stars with eyes turned to the sky.

The heart of the shows: Piazzale della Libertà

The center of the event is Piazzale della Libertà, on the Pesaro seafront, where each edition features a large luminous and "secret" inscription made of over a thousand candles, the content of which is revealed in the evening. The tribute to the famous Sfera Grande by Arnaldo Pomodoro is evocative, around which about two hundred floating lights are arranged, reflecting on the bronze of the artwork.

Music and dance by the sea

The evening offers itinerant pizzica shows along the seafront, between the Moletto area and viale Zara, and the traditional concert by the Mirko Casadei Big Band, which brings Romagna's liscio and popular music to the beach in a festive style, accompanied by dance performances. Along the seven kilometers of coastline, over eighty beach establishments organize parties, beach parties, and themed dinners.

A territorial event

Promoted by the Municipality of Pesaro together with the Municipalities of Gabicce Mare and Gradara, with the collaboration of the Pro Loco of Candelara and local volunteers, Candles Under the Stars has become one of the most representative events of the Marche summer, capable of uniting seaside identity, popular tradition, and territorial tourism promotion. Sustainable mobility is encouraged with shuttle buses and cycle paths to reach the seafront.