Talamello

Clinging to Mount Pincio that protects it, it is flanked towards the river by rocky crags topped by the fortresses of San Leo and Maioletto that control the valley and nearby Novafeltria, the town it gave life to about 100 years ago. This left Talamello orphan of a large part of its territory and population.

It once belonged to the della Faggiola family, enfeoffed by the Pope, before returning to the Church and the Malatesta. The site of numerous battles between the Malatesta and Montefeltro, an unusual event took place here in 1296; the Ghibelline Maghinardo Pagani led both the Riminese and Montefeltro together into battle against the Papal army and managed to conquer Talamello. However, this reign did not last long as the Pope soon regained possession. The same happened after excommunication of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, when he enfeoffed the Guidi di Bagno and the Malatesta di Sogliano. Production of gunpowder began in several mills near Talamello in 1490, ending in the 20th century. Some vestiges remains and the two octagonal storehouses in Campiano, dating from the 19th and 20th century, are particularly interesting.

The intimate old town offers visitors a series of attractions in close proximity to each other. These include the fountain that adorns the square, the cemetery chapel with genuine 15th-century treasures and the splendid Crucifix by the “fourteenth-century Rimini school”. Also worth seeing is Amintore Galli Theatre, named after the father of the Inno dei Lavoratori (Anthem of Italian Workers) born here in 1845 who became a teacher, critic and esteemed composer; the building now houses the Gualtieri Museum and Art Gallery.

The town hosts several events promoting typical local produce like the Marecchia Valley Chestnut Fair in October and in November, it becomes Fossa Cheese capital with a fair dedicated to this delicious product that local poet Tonino Guerra calls “Ambra di Talamello”.