Introduction Across the Apennines from Florence is the Renaissance city of Urbino, where, during the late fifteenth century, life at the brilliant court of Federico da Montefeltro marked one of the highpoints of Western Civilisation. Your walk to Urbino begins at the dramatic crag-top village of San Leo and continues across rolling hills, crested with rocky outcrops, woods and walled villages, and covered with a profusion of flowers and butterflies. The interesting architecture (and art) on route, the fine churches and monasteries, together with Urbino itself, are reminders of times when this area was one of the most influential in Europe. Today, in the hills and quiet villages of Montefeltro, the courtesy and warmth of the people suggest that here the civilising legacy of Federico's Court lingers on...
Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive in San Leo An inspiring, scenic walk along strade bianche from the valley up to San Leo. (2.9 or 5.2 miles, 1.5 or 3 hours). Day 2 - San Leo to Villagrande Follow paths across farmland, with fine views, and walk upwards towards a low pass and your mountain-style hotel (3,000ft), beside a small lake. (6.1 miles, 3 hours) Day 3 - Villagrande to Frontino Paths follow the escarpment below Monte Carpegna or high over the flower-filled meadows of the mountain (4,634ft) - spectacular views - to Frontino. (10.4 miles, 5 hours) Day 4 - Free day in Frontino Optional circular walk visiting the abbey of Montefiorentino. (7.8 miles, 4 hours) Day 5 - Frontino to Peglio Walk along high ridges and across deep valleys to the ruined castle of Lunano, then climb two ridges, each with superb views, to the hill village of Peglio. (13.4 miles, 6.5 hours) Day 6 - Peglio to Urbino Across the hills, past farms, and churches, through woods and meadows to Urbino (1,575ft). (16.7 miles, 8 hours, or bypassing Urbania 15.5 miles, 7.5 hours) Day 7 - Free day in Urbino Day 8 - Return to Rimini airport
Terrain Much of the walking is on strade bianche (small gravel roads) interspersed with paths through high grassy meadows, through woodland and along farm tracks across high hills and along ridges with superb views.
En Route San Leo: fortified medieval village with impregnable citadel where Cagliostro, the Sicilian adventurer and 'magician' was imprisoned for heresy and died. 9C pre-Romanesque Pieve, 12C Romanesque/Gothic cathedral, l5C castle designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Villagrande: small mountain resort. Frontino: fortified medieval village. Convent of Montefiorentino with delightful cloister and Madonna by Giovanni Santi, father of Raphael. Peglio: hill village, overlooking the Metauro Valley and the ancient town of Urbania. Urbania: (optional diversion) famed for its ceramics; many churches containing sculpture, frescoes, doorways carved by Ghiberti; 13-15C Ducal Palace. Urbino: former home of Duke Federico da Montefeltro, who built the magnificent Renaissance Ducal Palace housing the national gallery of Le Marche with paintings by Piero della Francesca, Raphael, Uccello, Gentile da Fabriano etc. Also see Raphael's house; churches and remains of Roman theatre.
Food & Wine Le Marche is renowned for its interesting and resourceful cuisine - robust hand-made pastas complemented by rich and varied sauces; seasonal truffles, both black and white; a wide range of mushrooms - some unique to the area; rabbit roasted with mountain herbs and tender lamb. Sample the local Sangiovese and light white Bianchello del Metauro as well as some delicious Verdicchio whites from the coast.
Accommodation San Leo ** Albergo Il Castello Friendly family-run hotel on town square. B&B Villagrande *** Parco del Lago Comfortable mountain hotel with swimming pool (summer) & tennis courts. HB Frontino ** Rocca dei Malatesta Family-run hotel, once a keep/castle of the Malatesta family, in a peaceful village with views. HB Peglio *** Balcone sul Metauro Modern hotel in panoramic position, pool in summer. HB Urbino *** Bonconte Comfortable hotel on edge of medieval centre. (Officially ****) B&B Ravenna: an ideal extension is the delightful city of Ravenna, once capital of the Western Roman Empire, with many fine churches and baptisteries dating from Roman, Gothic and Byzantine periods.
From the central station in Bologna there are regular trains to Rimini. From Rimini a taxi (30 mins, c.£25/$43) or bus will take you to San Leo, via Pietra Acuta - where those wishing to walk up to San Leo can, by arrangement, ask the taxi driver to transport their luggage to their hotel. At the end of the trip you travel from Urbino to Pesaro by bus, then from Pesaro to Rimini or Bologna on the train. Local transport timetables are included in the Trip Information booklets.
