EMILIA ROMAGNA - The Romagna Riviera

MONDAINO
Inhabitants: 1.422
Surface: 19,77 sqkm
Height: 400 meters above sea level
Mondaino is a place full of pleasant surprises, such as the attractive round square, the castle with its panorama stretching away to the mountains and down to the sea, and mysterious tunnels beneath the town itself that are said to be haunted. Then there are picturesque streets and alleys, stately mansions, and a museum with a fascinating display of the fossilised remains of the animals that inhabited this territory millions of years ago. Other attractions include a botanical park with an interesting collection of Mediterranean plants and trees. The local residents often organise fairs, festivals and other lively events.

Montecolombo
Inhabitants: 1.824
Surface: 11,89 sqkm
Height: 315 meters above sea level
Along the central part of the Conca Valley, the oldest towns and villages are situated on pleasant hiltops. Montecolombo is one of these towns, and many parts of its ancient castle have survived, dominating a panorama that stretches over the valley, down to the coast and inland to San Marino, with all the promise of the tranquillity of the countryside only a short distance from the bustling beaches of the Adriatic Riviera.

Montefiore Conca
Inhabitants: 1.591
Surface: 22,41 sqkm
Height: 385 meters above sea level
From as far away as Rimini, a massive fortress can be seen crouched on the horizon, a solid and perhaps even sinister tower. 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, an all around, groves of oaks and olives invite us to venture out in their midst for relaxing country rambles

Montegridolfo
Inhabitants: 884
Surface: 6,79 sqkm
Height: 290 meters above sea level
Set on the border between the regions of Romagna and Marche, on the ridge which separates the valley of the Conca and Foglia rivers, there is the castle of Montegridolfo, one of the best preserved in the Rimini area. Around the town there is a landscape of mellow hills that lead gently down to the plain. The particularly beautiful buildings of Montegridolfo have been painstakingly restored, and it is quickly becoming a leading centre for tourism and leisure.

Montescudo
Inhabitants: 1.758
Surface: 19,93 sqkm
Height: 386 meters above sea level
Montescudo is set on a steep hill overlooking the Conca Valley, not far from the frontier with the ancient city-state of San Marino. The town's position, its medieval buildings and its rural landscape make it the ideal place in which to discover the hidden attractions of the Rimini countryside and investigate the traditions of local rustic life.

Morciano di Romagna
Inhabitants: 5.430
Surface: 5,41 sqkm
Height: 40 meters above sea level
Morciano is the most important centre of commerce in the Conca Valley, and it has witnessed a steady process of economic growth since the end of the last century. However, the foundation for this development was laid hundreds of years ago, when one of the largest annual fairs of Romagna was first held in the town, and its busy markets became a focus of trade for agricultural produce and a wide range of other goods for the area of the Conca Valley.

Poggio Berni
Inhabitants: 2.649
Surface: 11,8 sqkm
Height: 150 meters above sea level
Poggio Berni offers a moltitude of opportunities to sample culinary specialities and age-old customs. It has changed considerably over the last few decades, but is still firmly attacched to its folklore, its gastronomic culture and its warm tradition of hospitality to visitors. This is a corner of Romagna that has preserved its identity intact.