ANCIENT VILLAGES

Province of Pesaro-Urbino
MERCATELLO SUL METAURO
Inhabitants 1487
Altitude 429 m ASL
Surface 68,5 sq km
Distance
from Pesaro 71 km
from Urbino 35 km
i
Town hall:
Phone: +39 0722.89114
Mountain Community
Phone: +39 0722.315378
www.comune.
mercatellosulmetauro.pu.it
comune.mercatello@provincia.ps.it
WHERE TO STAY
HOTELS
CAMPSITES
HOLIDAY VILLAGES
COUNTRY HOUSES l
APARTMENT RENTALS l
ROOMS TO RENT
FARM HOLIDAYS l
BED & BREAKFAST l
CARAVAN SITES
YOUTH HOSTELS
MOUNTAIN DEWS
Thanks to its history, monuments
and environment, including
woods and pleasant hills, the territory
has been always considered
a “noble land”; San Francis used
to stop over there, during his journeys
to Romagna; so did numerous
painters, whose works can be
appreciated in the very interesting
Painting Gallery, housed in the
Gothic Church of St. Francesco.
The village, the original name of
which was Pieve d’Ico (maybe
due to the presence of an icon representing
the Madonna delle
Grazie, contained in the Collegiata),
was provided with defensive
walls in 1235. The modern
name evidences the lively trade
activities, the village has been
scene of. Over the centuries the
village has significantly grown up
beyond the oval shaped ancient
walls.
WORTH VISITING
In the Pieve Collegiata, dedicated
St. Pietro apostolo you can
find a hieratic icon with Byzantine
traits, dating from the 11 th
century, as well as sacred vestments
and objects, on display in
the Museum. The monumental
Church of St. Francesco, dating
from the 13 th century, houses an
important Gallery Museum, containing
valuable works, among
which a 14 th century polyptych
by Giovanni Baronzio and an impressive
Crucifix by Giovanni da
Rimini. Worth seeing are also the
17 th century Palazzaccio, with its
peculiar ship shape, with the Sant’Antionio
stream on the background,
the fascinating Mulino
della Pieve (old mill), the 16 th
century Palazzo Donati, the historical
relevant Palazzo Stefani,
with its portal of the 15 th century,
as well as the rooms of Palazzo
Ducale, designed by Francesco
di Giorgio Martini for Federico
of Montefeltro. Also to be seen
are the Church of St. Chiara, the
Church of the Holy Cross, the
Church of St. Maria del Metauro
and the Romanesque Bridge
across the Metauro river, built on
three archways.
SOMETHNIG MORE TO
DISCOVER
Located in the upper Metauro
valley, the town still preserves its
historical and artistic patrimony;
for that reason the Italian Touring
Club has been awarding the town
the prestigious Orange Flag for
years, a mark for touristic quality
in the Italian hinterland. Mercatello
is the birth place of Santa
Veronica Giuliani, a Capuchin
Clarisse nun; it houses her birthhouse,
as well as a Museum, dedicated
to her, housed in the local
Monastery of the Capuchin nuns.
WORTH TASTING
There are lots of specialities, such
as truffe, Montefeltro spiced ham,
salami with lardon, tortella (pork
neck salami), fegatelli (spiced
pork liver wrapped in caul fat),
golfetta-salami. Also to appreciate
are handmade pasta recipes, bakery
and pastry products, biscuits,
as well as alcol free drinks, distillates
and liqueurs like for example
the Vin Santo of Pieve d’Ico.
WORTH DISCOVERING
Not far away is the Aula Verde di
URBINO
MERCATELLO
SUL METAURO
PESARO
ANCONA
MACERATA
FERMO
ASCOLI PICENO
Castel della Pieve, an old fascinating
medieval place, to be
reached through an interesting
environmental education route.
It’s said to be the place where the
decision of Dante’s exile was
taken.
DON’T MISS OUT
Festa di Sant’Antonio (Feast of
St. Antonio) - January; Rally di
San Marino (San Marino rally) -
May; Corpus Domini (Feast of
Corpus Christi) - June; Fiera di
Santa Veronica (Fair of St. Veronica)
- first Sunday in July; Palio
del Somaro (Donkey race) accompanied
by the Sagra della
tagliatella (Tagliatella Festival)
with different sauces and donkey
meat sauce - July; Giochi in piazza
- giornata Ludobus (Different
competitions and games held
in the town centre) - August;
Festa di San Lorenzo (Feast of
St. Lorenzo) and Feste d’agosto
(August Festivals) - August;
Cantabimbo (children song
show) - August; Rappresentazioni
natalizie (Christmas
shows) - December.