Since 1936, the main collection has been displayed in the Palazzo Mosca, once belonging to a wealthy merchant family. In the 16th century they built this palace and the rural Villa Caprile outside of town. The palace was refurbished in the 18th century under the patronage of the marquis Francesco. He commissioned the work from Luigi Baldelli, a pupil of Giovanni Andrea Lazzarini.
The Mosca family retained the palace well into the 19th century, until it became property of the commune. The art collections held in the Palazzo Ducale were moved here. The simple facade has a stone portal with the coat of arms of the Mosca family.
Collection
The displays occupy five halls in the first floor, and include works from diverse centuries. Among the Renaissance works is the large altarpiece, called the Pesaro Altarpiece or Pala di Pesaro, depicting the Coronation of the Virgin (1475) by Giovanni Bellini. It was originally located in the church of San Francesco, Pesaro.
The second hall contains ceramic works including maiolica from the region. Part of the collection was donated by the marchesa Vittoria Toschi Mosca.
The museum also displays items related to the composer Gioachino Rossini, donated by his heir, Hercolani Rossini.
The museum recently acquired 180 works of 20th-century art, including porcelains and paintings, assembled by professor Adalberto Vinciguerra and his wife. Among the masterpieces is a porcelain vase by Gio Ponti, titled La passeggiata archeologica (1925), made by the Manifattura Doccia of Richard Ginori. A number of glass pieces are on display including some from 1921 to 1922 by Vittorio Zecchin completed by Venini e Cappellin; also works by Napoleone Martinuzzi and Carlo Scarpa.