Carpegna

"Carpegna is enough for me," said the “pirate” Marco Pantani (a famous cyclist), about the climb up the slopes for six miles, through uncontaminated nature, to reach the top of the mountain from which the city draws its name.

"You only hear your breath" recites one of the many signs that accompany cyclists that are climbing 1415 meters high, in a place dominated by the giant poster of the unforgettable champion of cycling.

A unique panorama that is reflected in a suggestive valley situated on the border between the province of Pesaro and Tuscany. The hundreds of kilometres of trails, immersed among the rocky clusters of the Sasso Simone and Simoncello Interregional Park, make it the ideal destination for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding and birdwatching.

The awarding of the "transparent flag" for the healthiness of the air is another distinctive feature of a territory known for its high accommodation capacity for tourists and the modern sports centre, an ideal place for retreats of every discipline.

A famous chorus of humour by the historical music band describes Carpegna as "the star of Montefeltro", characterised by places of incomparable beauty and magical flavour, but also rich in history.

The noble house of the counts of Carpegna, were ancestors to the most powerful families of the lords of Central Italy, first of all the Montefeltro family, who dominated Urbino until 1508, but also the Malatesta family and the Della Faggiola family. The Palace of the Princes is in the centre of the village, inhabited by the descendants of the ancient Carpegna Falconieri family. Built in 1675 for Cardinal Gaspare, and designed by the architect Giovan Antonio De Rossi, the princely residence contains the original furnishings, the rich throne hall, a chapel for the family and a precious library that encloses the documentary testimonies of so many men of arms, ecclesiastics, ambassadors and other illustrious characters who over the years have stayed in the caste.

Among the small historic villages located in the area we find the religious buildings such as the church of San Sisto, endowed with a valuable Romanesque crypt, the convent of the Friars of San Nicolò, famous for the mysterious episode in 1970, when the bells rang out whilst remaining motionless.

Nestled in the ancient region of Montefeltro, Carpegna is appreciated at a gastronomic level for the production of fresh and sweet cheeses such as the "casciotta di Urbino” which is said to have been liked by Michelangelo. The quality of the meat has encouraged the spread of the ham of Carpegna, the most tasty and sought after of coldcuts. The forests are rich in mushrooms and truffles and produces good quality honey.