Marche: an underscovered Italian treasure
Posted by Claudia | |
Sassocorvaro CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, gengish skan
Lovely and historical Marche!!! Let’ s get together to discover Mercatello sul Metauro, a market town on the Metauro River in central Italy’s Marche region. The town is about 18 km west of Urbania in the northwestern part of the region near the borders of Tuscany and Umbria.
You can reach it by bus from Pesaro, about an hour and a half from Rimini or Ancona airport by car.
Mercatello was born in 1235: Pieve d’Ico asked 7 noble families living in small castles in the hills to move in the new town. Each of them built a palazzo around the main square. 50 years later, walls were the erection of solid walls around the town changed the name to Mercatello sul Metauro.
Palazzo Donati is a vacation rental for small groups. Guests can use the rustic kitchen with the fireplace and a modern kitchen near the dining room. Upstairs is a living room with frescoes. Three bedrooms have also private bath!
After resting a bit in a marvellous scenario, you can go to Locanda Sacchi, a renovated 16th century palazzo with four guest rooms.
An amazing exoperience is just to sit at the bar’s little tables close to the cathedral in the main square: the astonishing palazzi are amazing and you can embrace with a sight. Explore the small medieval streets and houses toward Porta Metaura, the town gate that leads to the river, look forgo and search the small door of the “dead” on one of the old houses.
You can miss then the Good Friday procession here: an ancient leather figure of Jesus with moving parts is nailed to a cross on Thursday night. The he is taken from the small church of Santa Croce to the cathedral in a solemn procession. On Good Friday in a very suggestive atmosphere, Jesus is taken down from the cross, put in a casket, and carried in a procession back to Santa Croce. He is then put back on the cross where he stays for a week. At San Francesco Church you can see many lovely music festivals and events. In December a presepí contest takes place. This nativity scenes’ competition is held among the neighboring towns and the setting up is in the spectacular town centre.
But what does it happen in summertime? For example, on the night of San Lorenzo on August 10, people make a long walk. It takes about a one hour walking to reach a luxury dinner and live concert from Mercatello to Castello di Pieve, a small hill top hamlet. The path is an old Roman road up the hill, .
The latter place is pretty famous in Italy, bacause here was where Dante’s exile was decided.
Once here, you can’t miss to visit also Sant’Angelo in Vado, a nice town a few kilometers away, is famous for its truffles and truffle fairs are held three weekends in October. Outside town are some Roman ruins, including the remains of a villa with mosaic floors.
Do not forget to get in touch with the nature and the surrounding beautiful hill and mountains!! Here the hilly and sweet countryside is ideal for walking, hiking and mountain biking. Lovely also to riding horses along the hill peaks, looking for grapeyards. Earting out in the organic restaurants and retreats is not only advisable but also affordable! So leave your greysh and rainy place for a true sunny and interesting jump in another century…The medievel Mercatello sul Metauro is waiting for you as an hidden jewel in the crown called Marche region.
Recent Comments