Founded by the Romans, Fermignano was the field of the Battle of the Metaurus. The Carthaginians, led by Hannibal's brother Hasdrubal, were defeated by the Romans in 207 b. C. According to the legend Hasdrubal’s sepulchre  is on the Montelce hill and it was visited by Montaigne, Giacomo Leopardi  and Giovanni Pascoli.
It was Donato Bramante’s birthplace and a Contemporary art gallery is named after him.  There are significant buildings, such as the monumental complex of the Medieval tower “delle Milizie” and the Roman bridge with three arches on the Metauro river. The former slaughterhouse  and the wash house date back to the 19^th century ( visits upon request). The former paper mill located in Veneranda street was rented out by the Montefeltro family to three paper masters from Fabriano, which at that time was already a thriving town for paper manufacturing. Noteworthy is the church of San Giacomo  in Compostela, an important historical monument with 14th and 15th century frescoes.
Along the Metaurense provincial road  you can find the Villa Gentilizia Isola,a farm house owned by Federico Bonaventura who hosted in 1578 the Italian poet and writer Torquato Tasso, who wrote here his “Ode to the Metaurus”.
The Furlo Gorge is within Fermignano’s area. It’s a nature reserve characterized by a landscape which is partly hilly and partly harsh and rocky.
Every year, on the Sunday after Easter, it takes place the historical Palio della Rana (a Race of the Frog on Push-cart) and at the end of Summer the Grand Prize of the 19^th C. Penny-farthing, both historical re-enactments with people dressed in costumes.