A place to discover, savor, explore. A place to live. The heart of Romagna and in particular the hinterland of Rimini has a lot to offer and is able to surprise every visitor who passes by, who will fall in love forever with its landscapes, its flavors, the squares and alleys of its villages, its castles.
Romantic villages, incredible views, suggestive folk traditions and an ancient history await you for an amazing journey. Follow me to discover the 10 destinations you can’t miss in the hinterland of Rimini and in the all Romagna.
A visit to the Castle of Montebello
A few kilometers from the Romagna coast, we find the Castle of Montebello, which dominates the Marecchia valley, offering visitors a truly indescribable panorama that gives us a first idea of how wonderful the Romagna and the hinterland of Rimini are. The fascinating fortress is surrounded by a popular medieval legend: the protagonist is Azzurrina, the daughter of Ugolinuccio di Montebello, born in 1370. Legend has it that the girl was albino and disappeared when she was five years inside the castle. Since then the ghost of Azzurrina lives inside the castle.
Following the story of Paolo and Francesca
Dante has immortalized it and made it a symbol of passionate and unfortunate love and now we all know the story of Paolo and Francesca, but perhaps not all know the Castle that was the scene of the meeting and the sad end of the two lovers. We are in Gradara, a charming village located in an area of exceptional landscape and environmental value. Here there are historical artefacts, churches and evocative views.
A CO2-free stay at Casa Calénc, in the heart of Romagna
Among the many who fell in love with Romagna and its landscapes there are Han Six Dijkstra and Liesbeth Wijnen. 20 years ago, the Dutch couple bought and renovated an old house, from which they built small apartments, a beautiful park and a swimming pool. Casa Calénc is completely green and independent from an energetic point of view and allows you to live a charming stay in the middle of nature.
A lunch in a typical trattoria of Romagna
A holiday in Romagna cannot be defined complete and satisfying without first having tasted its flavors. Enter a restaurant, find authentic hospitality and traditional cuisine. Taste the tagliatelle with meat sauce or cappelletti pasta, a piadina, or even polenta with clams and rabbit in porchetta, to finish with a typical dessert, like the latteruolo.
See the panorama from the fortress of San Leo
Taste the cheese of fossa in Sogliano al Rubicone
Another village not to be missed in the hinterland of Rimini is definitely Sogliano al Rubicone. Known above all for its fossa cheese, the village tells the most authentic Italy, presents enchanting views and fascinating sea views.
Explore the caves of Onferno
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- Onferno caves
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- Onferno caves
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- bat
A small stream that makes its way between the rock and that with its strength creates an unusual and evocative place. A few kilometers from the coast of Romagna, in the hinterland of the Valconca, are the Caves of Onferno, a perfect destination for those who want to experience the thrill of an underground adventure. We descend for 1350 meters to admire, in a speleological visit that lasts about 90 minutes, chalk formations, a huge colony of bats and all the caves.
Follow the path of the secular hazel tree
Among the many paths that wind through the green Romagna I recommend this incredible itinerary of just over 6 kilometers, to be done on foot in about 3 hours. The route, starting from the square of Savignano di Rigo and through beautiful views, allows you to reach a multi-secular hazel tree, 25.30 m high and with a circumference of 3.62 m.
A dip in the green of the Montetiffi Oasis
Between the Savio and Marecchia rivers you will find the Montetiffi Community Interest Site. Here you can walk in the middle of nature among the hilly landscapes, the woods and the prairie. Among the laws and the maples, the wild lime trees and the red juniper you can spot porcupines, polecats, green peaks and who knows… maybe even a wolf.
White Truffle Fair of Sant’Agata Feltria
If you decide to visit Romagna in October you can’t miss the white truffle fair of Sant’Agata Feltria which enhances all the typical local produces, especially the precious white truffle that comes from the surrounding woods.
In the hinterland of Rimini you will find another face of Romagna, different from the beach, capable of giving unexpected surprises, endless suggestions and breathtaking views.
Cover photo © Han Six Dijkstra