Just a few kilometers outside Pesaro at the Adriatic Sea in the Marche we came across this little Medieval town. It is situated high on a rock and gives an amazing overview of the countryside. We could see Fano and the sea on one side and the lush green hinterland on the other.
This little borgo has just 500 inhabitants which live mainly in the old castle. Here we walked through little lanes, often flower pots in front of the house entrances. We saw a few cars but they are just from the inhabitants, others have to park outside the walls.
It is an ancient place where already the Picenes lived. There is found a necropolis with more than 300 tombs. The most famous artifact is an ancient stele, the Stele di Novilara, dated to the VI – V century B. C. (I guess we could see it in the Archaeological Museum of Pesaro).
There was an older fortification from around the year 1000 just outside the today castle. But it was completely destroyed and in the 14th century there was build the new one where we walked in.
The castle had a few owners, from first the Malatesta, then the Sforza and at least the Castiglione, all families that ruled int this area and had a very important impact to history.
Today there is still only the entrance gate which I find very impressive and of course the surrounding walls. The streets and houses may be a little more recent but still in the same style and all looks like a very clean and neat little Medieval town.
When we walked through the little lanes, enjoying the view around, all was closed. There is a little restaurant we would liked to sit for lunch or even dinner, we didn’t encounter even one human soul but a relaxing cat right in the middle of a lane.
Later I read that the place is famous for its embroidery and weaving. Should go another time when shops are open just outside the walls where the borgo continues.
We found this place just by doing ‘a mystery tour’ in the heat of a summer day in July.
Novilara, Le Marche/Italy:
For further information:
Novilara (in Italian)
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