The tufa caves, the Marchi printing workshop with its mangle, the Ganganelli Arch and the castle of the Azzurrina legend.
Santarcangelo is the hillside village closest to the sea: climbing streets, an underground city carved into the tufa and a workshop that still prints fabrics by hand as they did in the 1600s. Then you climb up into the Valmarecchia valley to Montebello Castle, famous for the legend of the little girl Azzurrina. The home of piadina, and of the poets Tonino Guerra and Raffaello Baldini.
Times are a guide: driving times are worked out without traffic, then come the visits and ten minutes at every stop to park. In summer towards the coast and at rush hour allow extra time.
The main square of the village, with the Sferisterio where they used to play pallone col bracciale. The triumphal arch was built at the end of the 18th century for Lorenzo Ganganelli, born in Santarcangelo and who became Pope under the name of Clement XIV.
Under the hill there are more than 150 caves carved into the sandstone: corridors, round rooms, niches and stairs descending into the darkness. It's still not known for certain who carved them or what they were originally for, perhaps places of worship; over the centuries they've been used as cellars, ice houses and shelters during the war. The Grotta Monumentale is the largest and most evocative.
Guided tour, book at the village tourist office (IAT).
A workshop opened in 1633 where fabrics are still printed by hand with carved wooden blocks and 'rust' colour, made with vinegar, flour and iron. Inside there's the mangle, an enormous wooden machine for pressing fabrics, with a large wooden wheel turned by hand: they still set it turning for visitors.
It's a shop with workshop: if there are a lot of you, let them know beforehand.
You climb up through narrow streets to the Campanone, the clock tower, from which you can see across the plain to the sea. At the top there's the Rocca dei Malatesta, still privately owned. Along the way you'll find workshops, taverns and verses by dialect poets written on the walls.
The Rocca only opens on certain dates with guided tours.
A castle on a rocky spur above the Valmarecchia, inhabited by the Guidi di Bagno family. The guided tour takes you through rooms with furniture and weapons from the Middle Ages to the 18th century and down into the ice house where, according to legend, in 1375 Guendalina disappeared, the albino daughter of the lord of the castle, called Azzurrina for the reflections in her dyed hair. Children love it, and everyone loves the view over the valley.
Guided tours only at set times: check the times and book for groups.
How long it takes from each town, the drive back included. Tap a town to see the plan from there.
Almost every old town has a limited traffic zone (ZTL) with cameras: park outside and walk in. The fine reaches your home, abroad too. ZTL and car parks town by town
Romagna Transfer picks you up at your hotel, drops you in front of every stop and brings you back: no parking, no ZTL, and the wine is yours to enjoy.
The Tiberius Bridge, Borgo San Giuliano, the Arch of Augustus, the Domus of the Surgeon, the Tempio Malatestiano and Piazza Cavour.
4 h 20 from Marotta Half day
The plan
The Fellini Museum between Castel Sismondo and Palazzo del Fulgor, the Fulgor cinema, the murals of the Borgo, the Grand Hotel and the director's tomb.
5 h 20 from Marotta Half day
The plan
The Rocca del Sasso and the Villanovian museum in Verucchio, the Forte di San Leo with Cagliostro's cell, the Pieve and the Duomo.
6 h 25 from Marotta Long half day
The plan
Tonino Guerra's Places of the Soul, the Dalai Lama's bell, the Rocca Fregoso and Sant'Agata's wooden theatre
6 h 45 from Marotta Full day
The plan
The Rocca and walls of Gradara, where tradition places the love story sung by Dante, and the Rocca Malatestiana of Montefiore.
4 h 50 from Marotta Half day
The plan
The Ducal Palace with the National Gallery of the Marche, Raphael's house and the Oratory of San Giovanni.
4 h 40 from Marotta Half day
The planTrips written by our editors from the facts of our monument pages and the official sites. Opening days and hours change: the note under every place tells you what to check before you leave. No prices: you find them on the museums' sites.
