Bike itinerary: Cesenatico – San Leo the ancient fortress
A truly spectacular itinerary with breathtaking stages and stunning views: in particular, the unique emotion of seeing the Fortress of San Leo atop a cliff that dominates the valley. A challenging route suitable for experienced cyclists, but the effort is certainly rewarded by unforgettable landscapes.
Access mode and requirements: recommended itinerary for cycle tourists of fairly high difficulty, with an uphill section (5 km).
Distance covered: 108 km.
Detailed itinerary: in Cesenatico, take the underpass on Viale Trento and at the exit turn right towards Sala; once in the hamlet of Sala, at the church turn left towards Savignano, passing through S. Angelo and Gatteo; upon arriving in Savignano, at the traffic light cross Via Emilia, after 100 m turn left and after 1 km turn right towards Canonica; from here continue towards Verucchio where you cross the SP 88 and after about 2 km turn right towards Ponte Verucchio; after crossing the Marecchia bridge, after one km you enter the SS 258 (Marecchiese) and then turn left towards San Leo; at the end of the climb continue towards Pugliano; at Ponte Baffoni you merge onto the Marecchiese and turn right towards Novafeltria; from Novafeltria continue towards Ponte Verucchio, where you leave the Marecchiese to reach Santarcangelo; here you follow Via Emilia and at the intersection for Savignano turn left until you reach the intersection for Bellaria where you turn right; at Villa Torlonia turn left and then right again towards Bellaria, until you meet the S.S. Adriatica, which will lead back to Cesenatico.
Main stages:
Verucchio: an ancient town, on whose territory the protohistoric Villanovian civilization developed, owes its fame to the Malatesta lordship, who descended from here to conquer Rimini. The town is dominated by the imposing Rocca del Sasso, from which one can enjoy a splendid panorama. The ancient village preserves valuable examples of religious art such as the Collegiate Church, the Church of S. Chiara, the Pieve, and the Convent of the Poor Clares.
San Leo: perched on the top of the cliff, it was the last capital of Italy in the first millennium (King Berengar II retreated there from 962 to 964, besieged by the German Emperor Otto I the Great). The imposing fortress that dominates it is one of the greatest examples of military architecture in Italy, designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. In a narrow cell of this impregnable fortress, Count Cagliostro, the most famous magician of the eighteenth century, was imprisoned for four years and died. At the foot of the fortress lies the small medieval town, which holds the title of city, entirely surrounded by sheer cliffs and where the Duomo and the Pieve, jewels of Romanesque art surmounted by a bell tower, are located.
Santarcangelo: for its beauty and the sobriety of its medieval architecture, the historic center of Santarcangelo can be considered a single great monument that has come down to us intact. The village, surrounded by a city wall, is characterized by a network of narrow streets leading to the Malatesta fortress. Of great interest are the tuff caves, excavated by man in ancient times, in such a way that each family owned one and all were interconnected to form a vast underground network, much of which is still visitable. Also worth a visit are the Romanesque parish church of San Michele, the Capuchin Convent, and the Museum of Customs and Traditions of the Romagna People.
Villa Torlonia: located in the municipality of San Mauro Pascoli, a few kilometers from the town, the Tower, an agricultural villa of the Torlonia family, for whom the father of the poet Giovanni Pascoli was a factor. The building was declared of particular historical interest by the Ministry of Public Education in 1974, which placed it under protection as a characteristic example of a 17th/18th-century Romagna villa.
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