where you can discover ancient traditions, attend country and town fairs, or appreciate the skill of local craftsmen. For further information on the area, the history of the people who inhabited it and the most important events, visit the www.signoriadeimalatesta.it website. Jump on the "COLLINEA" guided tours to discover these amazing historical towns! www.riminilive.com

La The Republic of San Marino, “Old land of freedom”, extends at the border between Marche and Emilia Romagna.

City of San Marino stands out against the calcareous- arenaceous peak of Mount Titano, 749 m above sea level.

Urbino

On two hills, 551 m above sea level, between the valleys of Metauro and Foglia rivers, Urbino rises.
Today, with Pesaro, the capital of a province of the Region of Le Marche, it has been, with the Montefeltro, the ideal city of the Renaissance.
Its historic centre has been recognised world heritage by UNESCO.
The Ducal Palace is a miracle of architecture and the façade “dei Torricini”, symbolically turned to Tuscany, has no equal in Italy.

Gradara is a typical medieval village, placed on a hilltop overlooking the Flaminia way and enjoying a beautiful landscape. The town is surrounded by trapezoidal fourteenth-century walls crowned by merlons and provided with rectangular bastions. The castle is placed on the highest and more easily defensible hill. The donjon, (Mastio) around the main keep, helps to confer the fortress the idea of strenght and elegance at the same time, typical of the medieval fortresses. The Mastio dates back to 1150 and the wings of the castle were built around it on a later time. The interior of the castle underwent radical changes in the course of the passage from a fort to a residential palace.

HISTORY
During the Roman times, Gradara was first a pagus in the countryside of Pesaro, then with the spreading of the Christian religion it became a parish and ended up a medieval village dominated by a huge quadrangular tower with merlons. Starting from 1283 Gradara is under the rule of the Guelph Malatesta. Giangiotto Malatesta is one of the characters in the story of Paolo Francesca which tragically ends in this fortress in 1289.

LEGEND
Giovanni Malatesta, named Giangiotto, was the eldest son of Sigismondo I, lord of Gradara. He was described as ugly and lame. In 1275 he married Francesca da Polenta, the daughter of Guido, the Lord of Ravenna of guelphs' side. Giangiotto was Podestà in the town of Pesaro and as he could not bring his family with him (because of a law of the time), he left his wife Francesca and his daughter Concordia in the castle of Gradara. Then, Paolo, his brother became a frequent caller at the castle. The story of the two lovers is made well-known by Dante in the V chant of the Inferno. But Giangiotto happened to know it, maybe from his brother Malatestino: Then he pretended to leave but soon came back to the castle where he caught his wife and his brother alone in Francesca's bedroom ... Giangiotto rushed upon his brother to kill him but Francesca sheltered him with her body and was killed at his place. Paolo followed her soon afterwards. Thus Giangiotto's vegeance was accomplished.

On a rocky spur with sheer faces rises, 583 m above sea level, San Leo.
Commune in the region of Le Marche, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, it is a magic place.
On the summit stands, in a continuum with the rock, the Fortress, impressive already from afar.
It seems impossible to have access to the very old citadel, on the contrary there is a road in stone, practicable by car.
Easy to imagine the incomparable landscape.

Commune in the province of Rimini, Montefiore Conca rises 385 m above sea level.
Among The most beautiful villages of Italy, its Malatestiana Fortress wonder visitors with its giant mass and austere lines.
Built around the mid-fourteenth century, it was one of the most representative symbols of power of the Seigniory of the Malatesta.
Today it is among the most important architectural works of Italy’s cultural patrimony.
Sigismondo, the most famous scion of the family of Rimini, embellished the imposing manor combining the needs of a military fortress to those of a luxury building.

The Fortress, impregnable for over a century, fell into the hands of the Montefeltro, for the Church, in 1462.

It experienced then the domination of the Guidi di Bagno, of the Borgia, of the Republic of Venice and of the prince of Macedonia Commeno Constantine, who here died in 1530.
It was then patrimony of the State of the Church.

If Montefiore experienced its apogee with the Malatesta, archeological finds and tombs of the Iron Age and the Roman municipium of Pian di San Pietro testimony of a distant and already lively past.
Impoverished at the end of the sixteenth century, only in recent years people are appreciating again its beauty and tranquillity.

The most important economic activity is agriculture, with a significant cultivation of olive.
The chestnut is the typical product.
New is the rediscovery of the “Gobbo”, “Pecorino” cheese curdled with the thistle.
People can discover the ancient craft of potters at the historic workshop of the Franchetti Family.

Today Montefiore is taking aim at tourism.

This area is full of archaeological finds linked to its ancient clay craft activities. The old Malatesta castle still retains its characteristic medieval layout. Particularly worthy of mention are the village of Albereto, the Museum of Farming Civilisation and the Museum of the Eastern Gothic Line, which is housed in the church of Trarivi (Chiesa della Pace) and contains artefacts from the Second World War.

This is an interesting medieval village whose walls enclose elegant palaces, towers and piazzas, testifying to the grandeur of its past. The rich and lush natural surroundings, fields and steep slopes have led Saludecio to be promoted as a "study centre for herbs and medicinal plants". We recommend seeing the collection of sacred art in the Sanctuary of Beato Amato Ronconi.

Tourist information (seasonal): tel. 0541 981757 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Don’t miss:
“Ottocento Festival” 1st week in August www.ottocentofestivalsaludecio.it
“Salus Erbe – Herbs of Health” on and around 25th April www.saluserbe.ottocentofestivalsaludecio.it

A few kilometres far from the Adriatic Coast, on a ridge, 420 m above sea level, rises Mondaino.
Commune in the province of Rimini, it is on the border with Le Marche.
Rampart of the Malatesta, it was contested with the Montefeltro for its strategic location.
Its mighty fortress talks about a past of bitter conflicts, so as the walls, largely intact, and one of the most successful Italian historical commemoration, the Palio of the Deer.
It is perhaps the deer, animal the area was rich of, that gives its name to the village: from Mons Dainus, to Monte Daino, to Mondaino.
In Roman times a temple of Diana, goddess of hunting, was so important to give its name to the municipium: Vicus Dianensis.
Founded perhaps by the Etruscans, the town has always been the lively protagonist of the area.

In 1289 the alliance with the Malatesta. Then the involvement in the wars.

For the peace treaties that were here signed in 1393 and 1459 between the two rival families, Mondaino became the “Country of the pacts”.

Little clear (the pacts): as early as 1462 Frederick of Montefeltro returned to the attack and conquered, for the Church, the Castle of Mondaino.
Fano, Ravenna, and the Cisalpine Republic alternated to the Church in the domain of the village.

Then the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy.

The first nucleus of the Fortress of the Malatesta was perhaps erected by the inhabitants of Mondaino, but the fort was wanted by the family ofRimini in the fourthenth century.

Sigismondo Pandolfo provided it with a boundary wall with 13 towers and with the underground walkways (recently discovered), to make Mondaino that “strong and important place, that at no agreement may be conquered,” as Frederick of Montefeltro said.

The striking castle-village of Montegridolfo rises 290 m above sea level on the boundary line between Romagna and Le Marche.
Commune in the province of Rimini, is among The most beautiful villages of Italy.
Already called Monte Lauro, by the bay surroundings, in the thirteenth century it became residence of the Gridolfi from Rimini.
We owe to them the first nucleus of the castle and the new name Mons Gredulphus, from which the present one.

With the ascent to power of Malatesta the castle was extended but, as it was placed in a strategic point for controlling the territory, it experienced continued sacking and destruction throughout the centuries of bitter fighting which oppose the family of Rimini to the Montefeltro of Urbino.

The most daring event of the village date 1336 when Ferrantino Novello de’ Malatesta, in disagreement with his family, guided Nolfo of Urbino to destroy the village that, however, was totally rebuilt by Galeotto Malatesta within a single year.

The imposing walls, with four towers, were elevated at that time and, if they could nothing against the advance of the Montefeltro, they still resist undamaged.

In early sixteenth century Montegridolfo knew the domination of the Borgia, then of the Republic of Venice, until the passage under the rule of the Church.

It returned defensive bulwark in 1944, during the Anglo-American breakthrough of the Gothic Line.

Mondaino with its seventeenth century colonnade and Malatesta Fort, which draws millions of visitors in August due to its famous “Palio del daino” (deer ‘race’).
Montegridolfo, instead, is in an idyllic setting, nestled among olive groves and vineyards, and its fortified historical centre is still remarkably intact and well restored.

Montefiore Conca, a lively fortified medieval village classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy on account of its dominating Malatesta Fort and architecture, offers superb food.

Near the border with Le Marche, the Karst caves in the Onferno Natural Reserve are also well worth a visit.

Nearby is Montescudo, a small town with civic tower and crumbling walls.
It is famous for its rich production of terracotta objects and potato cultivation (there’s a potato festival in August).

You should also visit Gemmano if you fancy a walk in the lush Malatesta Valleys.

Verucchio, ‘Malatesta’s cradle’, was the town of Villanova culture, finds of which are now kept in the Museo Civico Archeologico (Civic Museum of Archaeology), and features late medieval buildings such as the Parish church and Franciscan Convent where you can admire an enormous cypress over seven centuries old.

The town produces an excellent Cagnina, a sweet wine that goes perfectly with roasted chestnuts. Beautiful crafts shops are full of printed cloths, embroidery and rustic organic furniture.

Torriana rises on a rocky spur in Valmarecchia, m 337 above sea level.
Hanged on the impracticable cliff, it was called “Scorticata” until 1938.
Stronghold of the seigniory of the Malatesta, it was an important centre of light signallings for the valley in the twelfth century.
Today Torriana is commune in the province of Rimini and has for hamlet the near village of Montebello, known for the castle of the Guidi di Bagno and for the legend of Azzurrina.

From the top the ruins of the fortress and of the sighting tower, of the XIII century, welcome visitors already in the distance.

The ancient village, of Villanovan foundation, was inhabited since ancient times and its stretegic location was long contended.
But from 1186 to 1462 it remained unconquered bulwark of the Malatesta of Verucchio.

With the final capitulation of Sigismondo Pandolfo, by the Montefeltro, it went to the Church.
It also experienced the domination of the Borgia and of the Medici, then became property of the Church again.
In 1519 it was enfeoffed to Count Pio of Carpi.

In modern times, Benito Mussolini renamed the village Torriana.

Important agricultural center, the inhabited place lies at the foot of the calcareous rock, whose slopes have long been eroded by the quarrymen and marble workers.

Montebello rises on a calcareous cliff, typical of the landscape of Valmarecchia, 436 m above sea level.
From the top of the mountain the imposing fortress of the Guidi di Bagno dominates the valley.
The legend of the ghost of Azzurrina, albino little girl who mysteriously disappeared in the basement of the fortress in the Middle Ages, attracts thousands of tourists.

In the province of Rimini, hamlet of the commune of Torriana, and a few kilometers far from there, it is on the border with the Marche.
Within the walls the village keeps intact the medieval structure.
Crossed by foot the only gate, you will have the feeling that time has stopped for enchantment.
Another incomparabile sensation is offered by the beautiful view of the scenery of the surroundings.

The settlement, of the third century b.c., is of Roman foundation.
The erection of a lookout tower and the name of Mountain of war, from the Latin Mons Belli, underlined its strategic-military fonction.
Hard fought by the local potentates, it belonged to the Malatesta since 1186 and was by them fortified.
Captured by the Montefeltro in 1393, it became property of the Malatesta again in 1438 thanks to an assault that was led by Sigismondo Pandolfo.

Santarcangelo is an attractive and important little town which has kept its particular features and has maintained strong links with its past and its tradition. The old town centre is a lively place of well-kept houses and mansions, excellent restaurants and wine bars, narrow streets leading to little squares where there is always something going on. The atmosphere is that of a large village where life has kept its rhythm and its identity; visitors at once sense a “town” atmosphere which can only be Romagna.

Tourist information: tel. 0541 624270 www.iatsantarcangelo.com

Don’t miss:
“International Theatre Festival” July www.santarcangelofestival.com
“San Michele Fair” weekend of 29th September
“San Martino Fair” weekend of 11st November
“Small Antiques Market” 1st Sunday of every month