If a walk in the green is for you a therapy for the soul, in the hinterland of Riccione you will reach the peace of senses.

The Oasis of Montebello, the River Park of Marano, the Natural Reserve of Onferno, the Arboreto of Mondaino and the Park of the Quarry, are the natural reserves that, a few kilometres from the coast, offer you a lot of fresh and evocative trails, ideal for your excursions.

The Oasis of Montebello, in the municipality of Torriana, has been recognized by the European Union as a sensitive area from the environmental point of view.
Created in 1993 to protect a landscape that is very interesting for its vegetation, for the many species of wild animals and for its geological peculiarity (the presence of gaseous formations), the oasis covers 1200 hectares and is home to the Natural Observatory of Valmarecchia.

In the River Park of Marano, in the municipality of Coriano, you will come into contact with a rich and seductive flora and along the paths you will probably run across specimens of small mammals, hear the cuckoo and see the kingfisher diving into the water of the river to eat.

The Natural Reserve of Onferno, in the municipality of Gemmano, is known for its caves.
Along the underground way you will be guided through the canyons and the bottlenecks that were created from the erosive water and you will reach the greatest natural spectacle of the giant clusters of crystal.

We suggest hiking shoes and heavy sweat.

The Arboreto of Mondaino, in its nine hectares of forests, has more than five thousand plants that are representative of the Mediterranean bush.
It hosts the Dimora Theatre and its workshops of theatre and dance.

The Park of the Quarry, in the municipality of Poggio Berni, is situated near a fossil field of which it fosters the findings.
For guided tours you must book at least five days in advance to the office of tourism.

Not only trekking therefore in the hinterland of Riccione, but a fresh and enveloping embrace by nature which, so protected, can really be a cure for your soul.

To discover the prominent traces left by the Montefeltro family you need to go to San Leo (PU), situated atop an enormous insurmountable rocky outcrop: the only way to get there is via a road cut into the rock.

At the very top of the spur is the impregnable Fort built on the orders of Federico III da Montefeltro; it was converted into a prison during papal rule and the count Cagliostro and Felice Orsini were imprisoned there.

Famous visitors to the town were Dante and St Francis of Assisi: you can still view the room where the two men conversed.

There is no end to the architectural wonders: the Pre-Romanesque parish church, a XII century Lombard Romanesque Cathedral, the fort; the Museum of sacred art recently installed in Palazzo Mediceo, the ruins of several castles, including those of Pietracuta and Piega, the Monte di Pietracuta Dominican convent, and Montemaggio church with its magnificent lacunar ceiling.

San Leo offers one of the region’s most beautiful and characteristic panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and down the Marecchia valley to the sea.

Urbino (PU), cradle of the Renaissance, also offers valuable works attributed to Montefeltro’s times: the entire town, a world heritage site boasting some of the most famous and talked about masterpieces in the world, still greatly retains the magnificence enjoyed by Federico and his court.

History can be relived at the Rimini’s striking Malatesta Fort (Castel Sismondo). It originally served various functions: it was the Prince’s Castle, a fort, the barracks of the garrison town and a prison; and now it is an historical monument housing various exhibitions.

The splendid Gradara, which can seen from the A 14 motorway, comprises the Malatesta castle mentioned in Dante’s Inferno.

Mondaino with its seventeenth century colonnade and Malatesta Fort, which draws millions of visitors in August due to its famous “Palio del daino” (deer ‘race’).

Montegridolfo, instead, is in an idyllic setting, nestled among olive groves and vineyards, and its fortified historical centre is still remarkably intact and well restored.

Montefiore Conca, a lively fortified medieval village classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy on account of its dominating Malatesta Fort and architecture, offers superb food.

Near the border with Le Marche, the Karst caves in the Onferno Natural Reserve are also well worth a visit.

Nearby is Montescudo, a small town with civic tower and crumbling walls.
It is famous for its rich production of terracotta objects and potato cultivation (there’s a potato festival in August).

You should also visit Gemmano if you fancy a walk in the lush Malatesta Valleys.

Verucchio, ‘Malatesta’s cradle’, was the town of Villanova culture, finds of which are now kept in the Museo Civico Archeologico (Civic Museum of Archaeology), and features late medieval buildings such as the Parish church and Franciscan Convent where you can admire an enormous cypress over seven centuries old.

The town produces an excellent Cagnina, a sweet wine that goes perfectly with roasted chestnuts. Beautiful crafts shops are full of printed cloths, embroidery and rustic organic furniture.

Next, at Santarcangelo, you can admire the hundred or more grotte di Giove (Jupiter’s Caves), tuffaceous caves where it is believed Sangiovese wine was conserved.

Slightly to the right is a panoramic road that takes you to the splendid Torriana and Montebello forts still bearing signs of the Malatestas’ relentless battles.
You can also visit the Torriana-Montebello Fauna Oasis to take in its pristine nature.

Food is simple and genuine, such as the home-made strozzapreti and tagliatelle pasta. As for wine, Sangiovese and Trebbiano are produced throughout the region.

The printed cloths, ceramics and rustic terracotta products make especially good souvenirs.