Santarcangelo

A slow city – an international network of cities where living is easy.
One of the most attractive cities in Romagna, it is famed for its beauty
and for being the birthplace of more intellectuals and artists than any
other town in the province, including internationally-famous poets and
screenwriters past and present. Even a former Pope – Pope Clement
XIV Ganganelli – was born here as some monuments dedicated to him
recall. Art, culture, history and traditions are right at home; visitors
can sense this in its narrow streets and squares and in the numerous
events that mark the seasons and have become a great attraction
for tourists. Its historical centre is more alive than ever, thanks also
to careful reconstruction work that has taken care to maintain the
vestiges of the past. Despite having over 20,000 inhabitants, it still
retains a village atmosphere that focuses heavily on hospitality and
where there is a strong cultural identity. Despite this, it also has an
international feel and has succeeded in updating its image to meet
the challenges of the future. Proof of this is the famous International
Festival of Street Theatre that back in 1971 brought the cultural ferment
of those years to Santarcangelo. This has always gone hand-in-hand
with international social and cultural development. In the same way,
the town has managed to update its ancient fairs, renewing traditions
and folklore to make them modern events that focus on the town’s
wealth of natural products and gastronomic specialities. Its wines in
particular are famous and unsurprisingly, it is a Wine City. The first
settlement dates from the Roman period and followed the foundation of
Ariminum, around 268 BC. Its countryside was subject to centuriation
and numerous ovens were built in the area. The consular road Via
Emilia, which still cuts through the town, favoured trade and led to its
transformation into an important commercial centre, a characteristic
it has retained and that still makes it a popular destination for visitors
and tourists. In the Middle Ages, the town stood on the hill called Colle
Giove where the typical layout of a fortified village can still be seen. The
elegant and graceful old town is dominated by the Malatesta Fortress
as the family ruled here from the 13th century onwards. Although the
Santarcangelo
di Romagna
86
fortification already existed, it was extended and embellished by the
Malatesta and the current structure is the result of this extensive
reconstruction. Although the village grew considerably between
the 17th and 19th centuries, it has maintained a good urban harmony.
Noble buildings stand alongside more popular buildings to create
a balance that makes the town particularly beautiful and attractive,
also guaranteeing its inhabitants an excellent quality of life. In 1828 it
received the title of city and it became an art city in 1984 – a title it is
more than worthy of given its increasing dedication to hospitality.

www.santarcangelodiromagna.info