Montefiore Conca sits high on a hilltop overlooking the lush green landscapes of the Conca Valley. Historically an outpost of the powerful House of Malatesta, today Montefiore Conca evokes memories of a bygone era. Its romantic ambiance has earned it a place in the I Borghi piu belli d’Italia (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy). While visiting Montefiore Conca wander along cobblestone lanes framed by pretty houses, visit an imposing castle and sit at a café terrace.
Pass through Curina Gate into the old fortified area, from where pathways travel up to Rocca di Montefiore Conca castle. Standing on the site of an earlier castle, the Malatesta turned the fortress into a military base and residence in the 1300s. Frescoes by Jacopo d’Avanzi and period furniture decorate the rooms and costumed guides are on hand to provide historical information. Climb to the rooftop for great views of patchwork fields and the Adriatic Sea.
Time seems to stands still around the streets central Montefiore Conca. Flowers add color to the balconies of houses and washing is often hung out to dry between shutter windows. Watch the world go by from a café terrace on the main square, Piazza della Libertà. See frescoes by the Dolci family of painters at the Chiesa di San Paolo and Chiesa dell’Ospedale.
From the center, walk for about 15 minutes to the Sanctuary of Madonna di Bonora. The church’s simple exterior conceals a nave adorned with decorative arches, marble pillars and paintings that portray Jesus, Madonna and saints. Devotees come to say prayers to an image of Jesus taking milk from Mary.
Walking and mountain biking paths extend from the village into the gorgeous Ventena Valley. Spot roe deer and wild boar while surrounded by chestnut trees and olive groves. Join a guided tour of Grotte di Onferno, a network of karst caves, ravines and tunnels carved by an underground river.
Montefiore Conca is a 40-minute drive from Rimini. Travel here at Easter for religious parades, in summer for live music at the fortress and in winter for picture-perfect snowy landscapes.
