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Introduction
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 From
as far away as Rimini, a massive fortress can be seen crouched on
the horizon, a solid and perhaps even sinister tower fet among the
splendid greenery of the surrounding hills. This is the castle of
Montefiore,
one of the most interesting medieval towns of the Rimini area. Behind
its ancient walls, in its churches and narrow streets, precious
works of art can be discovered, and traditional crafts such as pottery
can be observed. Looking out from the highest point of the castle,
the view stretches away down to the sea, so close that it could
almost be touched, and alI around, groves of oaks
and olives invite us to venture out in their midst for relaxing
country rambles.
A visit to Montefiore is indeed a memorable experience.
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History
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| Strolling through the quiet streets of Montefiore,
it may seem difficult to
imagine just how varied and important the history of the town has
been. For
many centuries, it was perhaps the most influential community of
the lower
part of the Conca Valley, and occupied a prominent position in the
military,
economic, religious and culturallife of the region. The signs of
this momentous
past are evident in the sheer scale of the fortressand in the typically
medieval
lay-out of the streets and alleys.
However, the territory of Montefiore,stretching from the summit
of Mount Auro at a height of 480 metres down to the fertile terraces
by the River Conca, was inhabited long beforethe period.
Several prehistoric flint and bone artefacts bave been found in
the area, and
on a hill overlooking the valley a number of Iron Age tombs have
been
discovered.
 Roman
statues, vases, inscriptions, coins and columns have been unearthed
in virtually the whole territory, but the mostinteresting archeological
site is that of San Pietro in Cotti, known as Pian di San Pietro,
where foundations, floors, columns and pottery dating back as far
as the 5th century BC and covering alI the various Roman periods
show that there was a large and particularly important agricultural
and religious settlement bere. The site has
stilI to be excavated fully, but will doubtless tell us much about
the early history of the area. Montefiore was dominated by the lords
of Rimini as far back as the early Middle Ages.1n 1302, the inhabitants
attempted to gain their independence, but the threat of a long and
difficult siege put an end to the
rebellion.
The town saw its period of bighest splendour under the rule of
the Malatesta family, when this powerful clan chose to build one
of its most massive and impregnable fortresses bere, to serve both
as a prestigious residence and as a fundamental military bulwark
against the incursions of their enemies from the neighbouring territory
of Montefeltro.
The castle was built somewhere around 1350, and was controlled
by the Malatesta famiIy far more than a century.1n 1377, Galeotto
Novello Malatesta was born bere, and he was popuIarly known as 'Belfiore'
on account of bis pIace of birth. The castIe was strengthened around
1432 by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, whomade it one of bis key
strongholds. In this period, a number of civil and religious institutions
were established in the town, including monasteries,
hospitals and even a pawnshop, a valuable help far the poor of the
town.
After the defeat of the Malatesta family,Montefiore, lite the other
towns of this
part of Romagna, changed hands many times, and was ruled far brief
intervals
by the Counts Guidi di Bagno, Cesare Borgia, the Venetian Republic
and by Borgia, the Venetian Republic and by Constantine Comneno,
Prince of Macedonia, who died here in 1530. The castle then passed
definitively under the rule of the Papal State, being incorporated
for a short lime into the Cisalpine Republic in 1797. Montefiore
maintained its important position throughout the 18th and 19th centuries,
although many of the nearby towns, especially those in the lowland
plain, were beginning to grow in size and econornic significance
in this period.
In the early years of the 20th century the inhabitants of Montefiore
were increasingly attracted to the valley, even though bilI farrning
remained an important activity. During the 1950's and 1960's this
process of migration caused the population to decline even further,
and the trend has been reversed only in recent years, perhaps due
to the attractiveness of the town and its countryside, and to the
ease with which the coastal towns can now be reached with modem
means of transport.
Montefiore regards tourism as one of its best prospects for future
development, and has alI the attributes to make this possible.
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Places
and events
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|  As
soon as you arrive in Montefiore you will notice Porta Curina, an
archway from the 14th and 15th centuries set into the fortified
walls of the town and bearing the coat of arrns of the Piccolomini
family. On the left there afe the Town Hall and a number of medieval
houses. Walking up towards the castle, the San Paolo Church is on
the left, a little before the pottery shop, the workshop of the
Franchetti family. Inside there afe two foot-driven pottery wheels
of the kind used for many centuries, and the family produces an
interesting range of jugs,plates and vases in traditional forms
and colours. At this point the castle can be seen most clearly,
silhouetted huge and
threatening against the sky, and the entrance path leads round the
walls until
it reaches the courtyard, where there is a decorated well from the
end of the
14th century.
Inside the castle
there is a cross-vaulted hall where several rare
frescoes from the same century, by Jacopo Avanzi, afe on display,
and there
afe other frescoes by the same artist in the Imperatore Room, at
present closed
for restorations. Right at the top of the castle there is a broad
terrace which
offers a brea~taking view over the town, the nearby hills and valleys,
and an
ampIe stretch of the Romagna coastline. The castle appears to bave
been built
in 1340, by Galeotto Malatesta, although it was probably erected
on the site
of a previous fortification. Famous visitors in the past bave included
Louis the
Great, King of Hungary, King Sigismund of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperor,
Pope Gregory XII and Pope Julius II.
The castle fell into disrepair at the end of the 16th century, and
the restoration
work carried out in recent decades has not always succeeded in maintaining
the originai structure. Leaving the castle, turn right and follow
the Ghirlanda
street round to the San Paolo Church, in Gothic style, which has
a precious
painted wooden cross of the 14th century Rimini School. After passing
through Porta Cucina once more, a street leads round the outer walls
of the castle. In
the main street ofMontefiore, Via XX Settembre, there is the Ospedale
Church,
also known as Santa Croce, with several15th century frescoes of
the Marche
School. Other interesting places to visit include the Cappuccini
Monastery,
near the summit of Mount Auro, and the Madonna di Bonora Sanctuary,
one of the oldest and most well-known of its kind in the Rimini
area. The
countryside around Montefiore deserves particular attention, and
perhaps the best pIace to appreciate this natural beauty is in the
Ventena Valley, situated between Montefiore and Gemmano. Annual
events include the Good Friday Procession, in full costume, and
the Chestnut Fair, held on Sundays in October.
The Summer Arts Season enlivens the castle during the month of July
with exhibitions and art courses. At Christmas, the Nativity is
represented in a pageant featuring local residents in costume as
the principal characters.
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Useful
information
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| Area:
22.41 sq. kilometres
Height: 385 metres above sea level
Populatìon:1550 .
Dialling code: 0541
Postcode: 47040
Town Council: Via Roma - Tel. 980035/980206
Tourist Informatìon: 50 Via XX Settembre - Tel. 782790
Montefiore Castle: Via Roma - Tel. 980035 (council)
(Summer opening: 10am-12prn/3pm-7pm; visitsfromNovember to March
by request)
Museum of Fossils and Minerals: Montefiore Castle (Spring opening:
Sundays and
holidays only, 3pm-7pm. Summer opening: 10am-12prn/3pm-7pm;)
Gothic Line Museum: 3 Via Xl February - Tel. 980045 (visits by request;
Custodian, 93
Via Monte Auro)
Posi Offices:
4 Via Europa - Tel. 980042
Serbadone: Tel. 988329
Police: Via Caserma - Tel. 980037
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Sources
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| Taken from:
A Guide to Rimini Countryside 1992
Published by
Rimini Area Tourist Authority
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