6 reasons to visit
Sassocorvaro Auditore
Sassocorvaro Auditore was formed through the union of two exceptional villages, creating a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. This combination of diverse elements has produced a winning formula, where the blending of distinct histories and traditions gives rise to new opportunities and a strengthened local identity.
The village seems to have stepped straight out of an ancient alchemical text, just like those consulted within the walls of the famous Rocca Ubaldinesca. A melting pot of wisdom, art and mystery, Sassocorvaro reveals itself as a place where ancient knowledge and the allure of esotericism permeate every stone of the historic centre.
In Sassocorvaro Auditore, history and tradition endure thanks to a constant drive towards innovation. The community’s enthusiastic vitality coexists harmoniously with the tranquillity typical of hilltop villages, resulting in a healthy, serene and deeply balanced way of life.
Set amidst a breathtaking landscape that seems to have been shaped by a magical hand, the area invites visitors to actively experience nature. Here, the environment is not merely a backdrop to be admired, but a living space to be experienced to the full, capable of rejuvenating the spirit through its unspoilt beauty.
Lake Mercatale stands out amongst the hills that shape the landscape of the Montefeltro. This body of water, which ‘peeks out’ amongst the hills, is a key attraction, offering unrivalled riches in terms of leisure, environmental research and the area’s microclimate.
Whether it’s practising outdoor sports, engaging in scientific research or producing top-quality food and wine, Sassocorvaro Auditore offers the ideal setting. A multifaceted village where the fertility of the land and the vitality of the landscape are transformed into products and activities of the very highest quality.
Discover the charms of Sassocorvaro Auditore
The Beauty Trail comes to life
Exploring the beating heart of the Marche region has never been easier with Criluma Viaggi!
Romantic weekends, days spent immersing yourself in nature or cultural tours: we’ve put together itineraries to suit all tastes and time constraints.
The mysteries of the Rocca Ubaldinesca
A stone book that conceals ancient wisdom
As soon as we arrive in Sassocorvaro, the Rocca looms imposingly before us, tall and majestic. But it is only from a bird’s-eye view that it reveals its secret nature. From above, in fact, the Rocca takes on a shape reminiscent of a tortoise’s shell.
The connection between the animal’s solid shell and the building’s defensive function is immediate. But beneath the rough carapace lies a living being.
This is the key to truly understanding the Rocca.
Designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, its curvilinear forms represent an unprecedented innovation, conceived in this way to defend the Rocca from bombardment. Yet Martini never acknowledged the Rocca in his Treatise.
Why? Of course, as an early and revolutionary work, the Rocca had inevitable limitations. But there was more to it than that.
The fact is that Martini did not truly regard it as his own. It was, in fact, Ottaviano degli Ubaldini who oversaw the building’s construction, leaving his unmistakable mark upon it.
A master of esotericism, astrology and alchemy, for Ottaviano the Rocca became a book carved in stone, into which he inscribed his knowledge, in a language comprehensible only to the initiated.
The entire architecture is steeped in mystery; even the smallest detail points to a symbolic meaning. Once through the entrance, you follow an ascending path which leads from the light-filled inner courtyard up towards the central tower, from which the interior rooms branch out. It is an initiatory journey.
Wandering through the Rocca means learning and solving puzzles. Countless fork-ways lie ahead, and esoteric symbols appear on the lintels of the doors
Flowing friezes end in convex, inviting shapes: the room is also accessible to women. Others end in pointed shapes, penetrating the space: only men are allowed to enter. A great deal of space is devoted to art, with an art gallery featuring local artists and a delightful little theatre created within the ancient Salone Maggiore.
Preserving art seems to be the Rocca’s inescapable destiny; during the Second World War, it became a refuge for paintings from all over Italy, brought here by Pasquale Rotondi, an art historian and hero, who saved them from the ravages of the war.
Reproductions of these works are kept in the Rocca, as an eternal tribute to Rotondi’s feat.
Romantic atmospheres
The Church of St Valentine, patron saint of lovers
The Oratory of the Holy Trinity in Sassocorvaro is a building that tends to blend in with the others flanking it. Walking along the narrow street onto which it overlooks, you might not even notice it.
Nor does the interior appear to have any features distinctive enough to catch the eye. Yet a surprise awaits any visitor who decides to step inside.
The Oratory is in fact better known as the Church of St Valentine, as it houses the relic of the patron saint of lovers. This relic has been the subject of much debate: a long-running dispute has seen Sassocorvaro contest the authenticity of the martyr’s remains with the city of Terni.
Following numerous investigations, the authenticity of the Sassocorvaro relics is now beyond doubt, and their journey from Rome to Sassocorvaro is well documented. The story of Saint Valentine is one in which history blends with legend.
It is said, in fact, that to the young people who came to visit him, the saint would give a rose plucked from his garden, which became a symbol of eternal love.
The fame of this patron saint of lovers grew to such an extent that countless couples from all over Italy travelled to receive his blessing, forcing Valentine to choose a single day on which to bestow it.
However, the day chosen did not correspond to the current 14 February, which is in fact the date on which the saint was brutally murdered in 273.
The presence of this priceless relic lends Sassocorvaro a unique atmosphere, steeped in romance and passion.
The church of St Valentine crowns a village that is, by its very nature, steeped in romantic atmosphere and offers itself to couples in love as the ideal place to stroll hand in hand.
Clinging close to one another as they wander through the narrow alleyways, locked in an embrace, their gaze drifts over the poetic landscape overlooking Lake Mercatale and the whole of the Montefeltro region.
A landscape that exudes peace
Nature and history between the village of Piagnano and Villaggio Ranco
Climbing up the slopes of the Sassocorvaro Auditore hills, you reach Piagnano, an ancient fortified village and home of the renowned Oliva Counts, whose history is carved in stone.
We can discover this history by tracing it backwards as we venture into the village.
The three levels of fortification walls are like the rings of a tree, revealing its age.
From the Porta Grande, the main entrance to Piagnano, we make our way up through the pointed arch of the eastern gate, which dates from an earlier period. We finally arrive in the historic centre of the village.
Here, the church of San Salvatore stands in the main square, flanked by the tall bell tower.
At the highest point of the village, fragments of stone and the remains of walls offer just a glimpse of what was once the imposing 13th-century fortress around which Piagnano developed.
Today, this small village nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Montefeltro is an invitation to rest and tranquillity.
The nearby village of Ranco shares the same landscape and has become its guardian.
Villaggio Ranco is a nature conservation organisation dedicated to preserving the environment, studying it and raising awareness of it.
It is a place that seems far removed from the present day, having escaped its hustle and bustle. Everything moves at a slower pace, in tune with nature.
Organised trips, environmental education projects, energy breathing courses and a B&B service are just some of the nature- and ecology-centred activities offered by Andrea and Catia, the founders of this place.
Anyone arriving at Villaggio Ranco finds themselves immersed in a beautiful landscape, rich in biodiversity.
Trails to be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback wind through unspoilt countryside, where the healthy Mediterranean climate, emanating from the vast holm oak forest, reigns supreme.
The gentle lapping of a small waterfall soothes the ears. The peregrine falcon traces spirals in the air. In spring, the scent of broom tickles the nostrils.
At dawn, pinkish hues colour the jagged walls of the badlands.
Sensations we thought we had forgotten slow our breathing and fill us with peace and harmony.
Gastronomic and wine specialities
The recipe: love, enthusiasm, tradition and innovation
In the land where the remains of Saint Valentine rest, it is only natural that love should be at the heart of everything we do.
Love has guided the work of Oleificio Agape ever since Agape Venturi and her husband bought the local oil mill. A name that embodies a destiny: Agape comes from Greek and means selfless love.
Agape is more than just a top-quality olive oil mill, as evidenced by the numerous awards it has won; it is a place where people come together, chatting cheerfully whilst waiting to taste the nectar that has just flowed from the spout – bright green in colour and with the characteristic aroma of freshly cut grass.
The story behind the creation of the ‘pecorino degli amanti’ is also steeped in love.
Produced by Cau & Spada, a farm specialising in cheese production, this particular pecorino is made in an ancient pit discovered in a building adjacent to the church of San Valentino.
Cau & Spada is a family-run business that takes care of its products by monitoring the entire supply chain. No two wheels of cheese are alike, because everything depends on what the flock grazes on.
The emerald green of the pastures is the true treasure of this place: if you want to know what a cheese tastes like, you have to ask the flowers.
Among the many outstanding products that come out of the dairy, ‘il Magnifico’ deserves a special mention: a matured cheese that is not simply ‘produced’, but is literally brought to life through a hand-pressing process, during which the curd is carefully tended until it reaches the right consistency.
The same passion drives the work at the Colleverde farm, where the craft beer “La Cotta” is brewed. La Cotta is the first brewery in Italy to produce a 100% organic beer using its own raw materials.
This achievement has been made possible by a process that combines traditional craftsmanship with the use of modern equipment, utilising local raw materials, from barley malt to spring water from Monte Carpegna.
The skilful process, which begins with the initial brewing stage (from which the beer takes its name) and leads to the finished product – whether bottled or served directly in the adjacent restaurant – allows us to savour one of the many varieties of La Cotta whilst taking in the breathtaking view.
Thanks to the purity of the air, water and soil, this landscape is particularly well-suited to honey production.
There are many specialist producers, including: Apicoltura Piemme, which stands out for its variety of honeys and the national awards it has received; Apicoltura Barone; Apicoltura Daniela, run by Daniela Pagliardini; and the organic honey from the Andrea Lilli farm.
Lake Mercatile
A natural oasis where you can relax and enjoy sport
Leaning against the balustrade that borders the square in Sassocorvaro, we could spend hours admiring the view before us.
A stretch of clear water catches our eye, reflecting the natural surroundings.
This is Lake Mercatale, an artificial reservoir created by a dam across the River Foglia, which takes its name from the hamlet at the foot of Sassocorvaro.
The village of Mercatale almost seems as though it is about to plunge into the calm waters of the lake, jutting out onto a strip of land. But the lake’s waters are not always still and motionless.
It is often rippled by the bows of long boats. Sassocorvaro Auditore boasts a long tradition of rowing, upheld since 1976 by the ‘Canottieri Montefeltro’ rowing club.
The sporting activities organised by the club take place regularly throughout the year, alternating between training sessions on the lake and indoor exercises, in preparation for the national competitions hosted in Mercatale.
Sport is seen as a priority in the development of young people, who can have fun and keep fit in the open air, against a backdrop of stunning scenery.
Getting active and discovering the natural world around us: this is the philosophy behind orienteering, a sport based on courses that participants must complete on foot, by bike or by canoe, navigating using maps.
A discipline that, from summer 2021, will also take place in the Lake Mercatale area.
Fun, a good workout and contact with nature – a sure-fire way to enjoy this beautiful spot.
At Lake Mercatale, particular attention is also being paid to ensuring that its many attractions are accessible to everyone.
Part of this area is, in fact, being fitted out with handrails and other aids, so that blind people and those with disabilities do not have to miss out on the pleasure the lake has to offer, in the spirit of inclusivity.
Auditore: Silence and Memory
A village shrouded in silence, where the din of war is still remembered
The name ‘Auditore’ almost seems like a contradiction in terms.
The place name derives from the Latin ‘Auditorium’, and refers to the fact that the Montefeltro and Malatesta families, lords of this land, used the village as a venue for discussing public disputes.
Nothing remains of those cries of protest and heated debates. The sounds have drifted away into the clear air, giving way to a restorative tranquillity.
It is restful to stroll through this small village nestled on a spur overlooking the Foglia valley, surrounded by walls and towers that reveal its distinctively medieval layout.
A distinctive feature is the 15th-century Civic Tower, whose circular base gives way to a hexagonal chamber.
Just outside the walls, the parish church houses Mariano Medici’s *The Pentecost*, a fine work dating from 1772.
But the true masterpiece is the view from Auditore: no shade of green has escaped the palette of Montefeltro’s natural landscape, nor are there any pigments capable of capturing the brilliance of this sky.
It is appalling to think that such an idyllic landscape was desecrated – and with it, the lives of those who lived there – during the Second World War.
To ensure that the memory of those terrible events is not lost, the Historical Museum of the Gothic Line was established in Casinina. The museum has a strong educational focus, recognising the importance of remembering history so that its mistakes are not repeated.
The museum houses incredible artefacts relating to the conflict fought along the Gothic Line, which ran right through these hills.
Numerous original military vehicles are on display outside, including an American half-track, a British tank and an imposing cannon.
In the museum’s themed park, set amidst countryside ravaged by mines during the war, a monument unveiled in 2004 – constructed by assembling 52 tank wheels – invites visitors to reflect on the horrors of the conflict.
Inside the museum is an archive unique in Italy, rich in photographic material, period newspapers, weapons, uniforms and all manner of war-related artefacts.
Discover the charms of Sassocorvaro Auditore
The Beauty Trail comes to life
Exploring the beating heart of the Marche region has never been easier. Criluma Viaggi is proud to bring to life Confcommercio Marche Nord’s ‘Itinerario della Bellezza’ project, transforming a guide to excellence into real itineraries, ready for you to experience.
Romantic weekends, days spent immersed in nature or cultural tours: we’ve created itineraries to suit all tastes and time constraints. The Criluma experience is the added value that guarantees you first-class treatment, comprising continuous support, personalised attention and immediate responses.