16 - The River
Fermignano owes much of its life to the Metauro river. This river was popular to wash, to spend free time but also to draw energy. It changed the life of the town with the advent of technology during the 19th century. The power of water operated two turbines that set the dynamo in motion, which was an electric generator. Fermignano, after Cagli, was the first municipality of the Province to have electric energy. In 1902 it arrived in Urbino and in 1905 in Pesaro thanks to the Raggioli hydroelectric system, designed by the engineer Luigi Falasconi. The ignition of the 23 lamps instead of the oil lanterns led to Fermignano a long line of carriages with guests and a newspaper of the time called the event: “The party of industry and of science in Fermignano”.
The industry development and the development of the territory is connected to the Metauro river and consequently also to the demographic development.