Continuing the journey to discover the hinterland of Romagna, after San Leo and Santarcangelo here are two other places to visit: Verucchio and Montegridolfo!
Verucchio
The village of Verucchio is located in the Romagna hinterland, on a hill, from which it dominates the green of the Romagna countryside; thanks to its ancient origins and to the famous people who have passed through its streets, is one of the most interesting towns in Emilia Romagna and among “the most beautiful villages in Italy”. For some years now, he has also joined the club of the Orange Flags, or the mark of Quality Tourism Environment awarded by the Italian Touring Club.
Fonte: dal web
The oldest archaeological finds that have been found over time date back to a period between the tenth and seventh centuries BC, which shows that the first settlements in Verucchio are of Etruscan times. The town, in the Romagna hinterland, as it appears today, was built in Roman times. After a dark period during the Middle Ages, Verucchio rediscovers success and beauty with the advent of Malatesta.
What to see in Verucchio
The village of Verucchio, in the Romagna hinterland, is delightfully small; however, it offers tourists and visitors a large number of places, buildings and monuments to see, just to discover and appreciate its history and culture. Here are the main ones:
Piazza Malatesta
The starting point for visiting Verucchio is Piazza Malatesta: here there are not only the Town Hall, but also some of the most beautiful buildings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Fonte: dal web
Rocca del Sasso
From Piazza Malatesta you reach the Rocca Malatestiana, in the Romagna hinterland, also known as Rocca del Sasso. It is an ancient military fortress, built on top of the spur of the mountain that also houses the town, and is among the best preserved defensive military buildings throughout Italy.
Fonte: dal web
Collegiate Church of San Martino
The Collegiate Church of San Martino, in the Romagna hinterland, is a religious building dedicated to Bishop Martino di Tours. Recently built, inside it houses significant works such as the crucifix of the fourteenth century made by the anonymous Master of Verucchio.
Fonte: dal web
The Gate of the Walkway
Finally, from the Collegiata it is possible to go towards the village of Passerello, in the Romagna hinterland, which takes its name from the family that built the homonymous fortress in the thirteenth century. The Gate of the Walkway, access point, still consists in a symbol of the place, since the materials with which it was made date back to over 800 years ago.
Fonte: dal web
Montegridolfo
Together with Verucchio, San Leo, Montefiore Conca and San Giovanni in Marignano, the medieval village of Montegridolfo , in the Romagna hinterland, is among the 5 municipalities of Rimini that are among the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Source: from the web
Inside, Montegridolfo houses many buildings and monuments of historical and architectural importance that attract tourists from all over the world, but its main peculiarity lies in the fact that it is located a few meters from the border with the Marche: In practice, Montegridolfo is the last municipality of Romagna that you meet before changing region.
What to see in Montegridolfo
The village of Montegridolfo, small but extraordinary, deserves particular attention for its past characterized by very interesting historical events, immortalized by monuments and buildings still visible. Here’s what:
Castle of Montegridolfo
All the villages of the Romagna hinterland are united by the presence of a castle, and Montegridolfo is no less: with its Castle of Montegridolfo, in fact, tells the endless struggles between the Malatesta and the Montefeltro, who long contended the territories of Romagna.
Fonte: dal web
Church of San Rocco
The only religious building in Montegridolfo is the Church of San Rocco: it is located outside the city walls, where it was built in the first half of the fifteenth century. Inside it houses important works dating back in particular to the seventeenth century.
Fonte: dal web
Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Grace
A last thing to see in Montegridolfo is undoubtedly the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Grace: it consists of a religious complex in the village of Trebbio built in the second half of the sixteenth century following a double appearance of the Madonna; The latter would have rested his feet on an oil mill, leaving a footprint. This same millstone is still preserved inside the Sanctuary.
Fonte: dal web
What to eat and drink in Romagna
Before leaving the hinterland of Romagna, the advice is to look for a local trattoria, book a table and taste the typical dishes of the region. The traditional Romagna cuisine is known all over the world, so it is absolutely worth trying the following dishes:
the piada, thick and soft in Cesena, Forlì and Ravenna, large and thin in Rimini;
the spianata, a fairly high focaccia prepared with flour, water, salt and yeast and covered with extra virgin olive oil, rosemary and coarse salt;
tortelli romagnoli, usually stuffed with country herbs and ricotta and flavored with nutmeg;
the tortelli on the slab, based on water and flour, filled with pumpkin, potatoes and cheese;
almonds, cakes made with flour, sugar, egg whites and chopped almonds.
Fonte: dal web
These are just some of the typical Romagna dishes to try, since the choice is so wide to create the embarrassment of choice! In any case, it should be remembered Romagna is also famous for its prestigious wines, such as Sangiovese di Romagna, Trebbiano and Pagadebit, excellent companions of every Romagna meal!
Copertina: dal web
