San Leo

San Leo is a small medieval village in the province of Rimini situated on a spur of rock in the Valmarecchia from which one can observe San Marino and Marecchia, on the border between Romagna and Marche.

Defined by Umberto Eco as “The most beautiful city in Italy”, not everyone knows that the village of San Leo was once a military fortress. In fact, what fascinates visitors, for the grandeur and for the scenographic elegance, is the strategic Fort, dating back to the period of the wars between the Byzantines and the Goths (VI century).

The historic center of the village can be reached through a single road carved into the rock. Once in Piazza Dante, the only square in San Leo, you can admire: on the left Palazzo della Rovere and on the right Palazzo Nardini.
But the reference point for tourists is the classic fountain, located in the place where once there was the community tree or Olmo di San Francesco.
Next to the fountain is the Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the oldest church of San Leo, and the Palazzo Mediceo.

Also the Cathedral of San Leo is an ancient and precious jewel, considered the most important medieval church of all the Montefeltro and one of the most singular and important testimonies of the Romanesque-Lombard architecture.

The rich history of the village has been a source of inspiration for the birth of various cultural events and popular festivals, which bring back to life the traditions and events of the past: “Giullari in Festival” recalls the figure of St. Francis of Assisi who arrived in the village in 1213 and takes place on the last weekend of June; “AlchimiaAlchimie” is an event dedicated to Cagliostro and takes place every year on August 26 (the anniversary of death), with markets and entertainment shows in the streets of the historic center; the Cherry Festival and the Threshing Festival offer participants the flavors and atmospheres of the peasant folk tradition.

During the demonstrations it is possible to taste some specialties of the territory: the digestive with liquorice called Balsamo di Cagliostro, the cheese with walnut leaves, San Leo honey and the sweet esplanade. Fresh pasta, cold cuts and meats are the real stars of the table: ravioli, tortelli, and tagliatelle with ragù or game are the first offered in all the menus.
Typical of San Leo are also the tortelloni stuffed with chard and ricotta (cheese), while among the latter the rabbit with wild fennel stands out.