From: 15/04/2012 To: 01/10/2012 Summer Events 2012 in Cattolica, preview

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Itineraries

The famous food and wine itinerary crossing Valconca extends along 51 kilometres and can be explored both by car, bike or on horseback to experience a deeper touch with nature while discovering local history and culture and the tasty and genuine traditional specialities served by charming holiday farms.

Besides offering guests the possibility to taste mouth-watering local specialities, Valconca's holiday farms give them the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views over the sweet rolling hills of Cattolica's hinterland and to buy excellent local staples.
   
From Cattolica, head to San Giovanni in Marignano and Morciano di Romagna and then turn left to Saludecio. This ancient village, which gathers outstanding buildings and monuments, such as the Parish Church of St. Biagio and its inestimable works of art, the Municipal Palace and the medieval civic tower, is the first leg of this fascinating food and wine itinerary.

Saludecio's sweet hill gathers several holiday farms, which can be reached taking the Provincial Road leading to Strada del Poggio, and so does the nearby resort of  Santa Maria del Monte. The crossroads to Tavullia lead guests to a charming holiday farm situated in Pulzona, which is situated on the top of a green hill and surrounded by its important breeding. Those staying at accommodation facilities situated in the surrounding area won't miss the opportunity to visit Nicholas Koppernik Astronomic Observatory in Saludecio.

The itinerary then leads to San Rocco and San Leone, the latter being a charming hamlet hosting a popular holiday farm surrounded by lush vines, olive groves and cornfields. The whole of the surrounding area offers guests the possibility to go for pleasant horse rides or exciting cycle excursions.

Once in San Rocco again, head to Saludecio's crossroads and turn left to Montegridolfo. Not to be missed is Meleto, which boasts impressive remains of its ancient Castle and medieval village.

Next stop is Montegridolfo, which hosts the ancient churches of St. Rocco and Beata Vergine delle Grazie. This charming village is dominated by the sheer cliff topped by Mondaino, which is scattered with historical finds and naturalistic beauties. Those staying at the nearby holiday farms will have the possibility to visit Mondaino's main sights, such as the ancient church of  St. Apollinare and the Palaeontological Museum, which both cherish outstanding prehistoric finds.

Montefiore Conca is situated just on the top of the sheer cliff dominated by the fourtheenth-century Malatesta Fortress, which commands the whole of the underlying valley. Down to the valley in the direction of San Paolo, it is possible to admire the ancient Sanctuary of Madonna di Bonora, which gathers precious historical finds and ancient paintings. From Piana di San Pietro, a narrow dirt road leads to a former countryhouse surrounded by ancient trees and olive groves. The owners produce Sangiovese and Trebbiano wines, grow fruit and vegetables and breed animals. The comfortable bedrooms situated on the second floor can be booked upon request.

Not to be missed is Gemmano, which cherishes a charming medieval village and gives guests the possibility to enjoy breathtaking views over the underlying landscape. The nearby provincial road leads to the small hamlet of Zollara. The last leg of this fascinating food and wine itinerary across Valconca leads visitors to Onferno, which is famous all over the world for its caves and almost unspoiled naturalistic beauties. A short distance from the caves and the XIIth-century Parish Church of S.Colomba is a comfortable holiday farm, which gives guests the possibility to taste traditional specialities from Romagna and drink excellent wines.