Valconca and Montefeltro
The Rimini hinterland between Valconca and Montefeltro preserves a fabric of fortified villages tied to the Malatesta family. Forty kilometres cut diagonally across the landscape, from the Rocca of Gradara to Mount Titano, and offer a compact medieval synthesis: three fortresses, three community museums, ordered farming landscapes. The route can be tackled by car or bicycle, lends itself to a day trip, and is particularly pleasant in spring.
The village of Paolo and Francesca
The village of Gradara, of the twelfth century, has retained the weave of narrow winding streets typical of Malatesta castles. In the Rocca, in 1289, the story of Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta unfolded, told in Dante's Commedia. Halls, courtyards and patrol walks can be visited; alongside the fortress the Historical Museum is open. Updated information on hours and tickets is published by the Pro Loco of Gradara.
Medieval capital of the Valconca
From Gradara, in about half an hour, Montefiore Conca is reached via San Giovanni in Marignano and Morciano di Romagna. Montefiore is among the "Borghi più belli d'Italia" and revolves around the Rocca, built on the orders of Malatesta Guastafamiglia in 1337 and extended in the fourteenth century. Here, in 1377, Galeotto Malatesta known as Belfiore was born. Some frescoes remain in their original setting; others are displayed in a hall with a cross-vaulted ceiling. In the village the Church of the Hospital and the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Bonora can also be visited.
Malatesta fortress and Ethnographic Museum
Another eleven kilometres lead to Montescudo, on the borders of the Montefeltro. The Malatesta fortress was built on the orders of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta in 1460; in the village the Civic Tower of the thirteenth century, the walls commissioned by Sigismondo and the Castle of Albereto can be visited. In the nearby hamlet of Valliano the Ethnographic Museum tells the rural culture of the Valconca, with work tools and finds of domestic life.
Arrival on Mount Titano
From Montescudo, in some twenty minutes, a visitor enters the territory of the Republic of San Marino. The most convenient access from the south is via Sottomontana, with car parks P1 to P6. From here the climb leads to Piazza della Libertà, the political heart of the Republic, on which Public Palace faces. The historic centre of the City, listed as UNESCO heritage, is walked on foot.
From the walls the Guaita and the Basilica of Saint Marinus are reached. For visitors who wish to deepen with the museums, the State Museum, the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery and, on a different register, the Wax Museum or the Museum of Curiosities complete the visit.
Stops and distances
| Stop | Territory | From previous stop |
|---|---|---|
| Gradara | Valconca · Province of Pesaro Urbino | Departure |
| Montefiore Conca | Valconca · Province of Rimini | About 30 min |
| Montescudo | Border Valconca-Montefeltro | About 20 min · 11 km |
| San Marino | Republic of San Marino | About 20 min |
Distances and times are indicative, varying with route and traffic. For the cycling track see sanmarinocycling.com.