One of the most suggestive places in the area Urbino Pesaro is called Mondolfo. That’s what I read in a book. So I looked it up how to arrive and with my guest friend I was off to see this ‘magic’ place.
It was easy to find and the way was already interesting passing through small villages and a hilly landscape.
We had a stop just before the town of the medieval walled town. It was so cold and windy but the sea nearby was incredible beautiful. I love the sea when it is not calm but in move, waves high and white on the blue sea in summer and the green sea in winter. The shades of the sea in winter are even more beautiful than in summer.
But our goal was not to fly away over the seas with the wind but to sight-seeing a nice old city center. I have seen a lot last year so I was curious why this should be more intriguing.
Being a holiday and many people are with family especially at a chilly day like this we found immediately a parking place without paying (in Italy look out for parking places with white frames, those are for free. Blue are to pay and yellow for disabled).
Mondolfo has two parts: the more modern outside the walls and the old one inside. We walked up the stairs to see the old part.
The medieval town is overlooking a the landscape and sea from 144 meters height. Once a thousand years ago it was a guardian of the Adriatic coast. The castle had different owners during the time, once were the Offo family from which the name Mondolfo (monte di Offo = hill of Offo) is from. Della Rovere, Malatesta and the church were dominating the castle and the surrounding villages. There is a long friendship with the della Rovere family due to loyalty but the most peaceful time came with the church as part of the papal state.
More recently in the mid 19th century Pope Pio IX built the railway along the coast which passed at the fraction Marotta, part of the Mondolfo area. Within short time the resort Marotta became a modern and well-known seaside holiday resort.
I read in a book that here live the royal eagle, the pilgrim, the wolves and more interesting animals. I have to return in spring when I am back to Italy. There is nearby as well the Mount Catria which is a rich flora and fauna area.
We just walked into the center. There is a nice piazza in front of the palace. With the blue blue sky it looked really fabulous. A smaller piazza is on the back and there are the streets again to go out of the inner walls. The view from here onto the landscape is amazing!
We walked then down the hill to look for a restaurant. Hungry and freezing there should be something cozy and nice. But no way… nothing. Even asking other tourists or in a bar – nothing open. So we entered a small doorway and found inside a cloister. Apparently it is the convent of Saint Augustine of the 17th century. There are beautiful frescoes, a small well and walking around the arches is very peaceful. There is a museum as well but was closed at that time.
Eventually we got away from Mondolfo as we were not able to find a place where to eat. We found a pizzeria downtown, a few minutes on the road to Marotta and the sea.
After all the city Mondolfo is nice. And in summer for sure a valid place to pass by on the way to the sea or maybe into the nearby mountains and the protected areas, But now in winter it was all closed, freezing cold to stay outside even it was sunny. So we walked just an hour maybe in the old part of the town before leaving. But I think it will be a good starting point for a trip into the mountains later in spring.
Mondolfo, Le Marche/Italy:
For further information:
Marotta and Mondolfo Tourism website
