Few territories offer so many authentic castles and fortified villages concentrated within such a small area. Rimini preserves one the most important, bearing witness to the magnificence of the Malatestas: Sismondo castle, which carries the name of its master. It is the main palace of the family, even though they loved to navigate through the many castles of its extensive territory.

Among these is Santarcangelo di Romagna, a harmonious and elegant historic centre dominated by the fortress of the Malatestas, who ruled there since the thirteenth century, even though the fortification was pre-existing. The lords of Rimini extended and embellished it, and the fortress of today is the result of their reconstructive work. Montefiore Conca, one of the preferred residences by the Malatesta, hosted kings and emperors. Going up into the hills of the Marecchia and Conca valleys, there is a plethora of castles and towers that are thousands of years old.

Here stood facing each other were the two neighbouring families, the Malatestas and the Montefeltros, in a relentless battle and often the castles were owned by either one or the other.  Leaving Santarcangelo, the route in Valmarecchia begins with the Marcosanti Palace in Poggio Berni, followed by the Scorticata and Montebello Castle, where the legend lingers of the little Azzurrina disappearing among secrets, which according to legend is still heard crying today.

Directly opposite is the fortress of Verucchio that was owned by Mastin Vecchio, centennial ancestor of the Malatestas.

Soaring on the left are the towered scenes of Mount Titano, emblem of the ancient Republic of San Marino. On a rather daring outcrop with a cascading cliff edge, sits the Fortress of San Leo, the ancient Montefeltro. Being of very ancient origin, it was rebuilt in 1475 by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, who transformed it into an unconquerable spearhead of the defence system within the area.

Crouching down under Mount Carpegna, is Pennabili with the Penna and Billi Castles. Most of the fortified town of Casteldelci, the ancient Castrum Ilicis, home to Uguccione della Faggiola, and Sant’Agata Feltria with the bizarre Fregoso fortess and the hamlet of Petrella Guidi, preserves the urban structure of the fourteenth century.

There is a similar journey of awe-inspiring wealth in Valconca, starting from inland with the medieval centre of San Giovanni in Marignano. On the way up is Montescudo with its walls of double defensive function, just a few kilometres away from the fortified village of Albereto.

The Montefiore Conca fortress is fascinating for its grandeur and beauty, giving its halls rare and precious frescoes, with the only surviving element, much of which is secular, being the fourteenth century decorations of the Malatestas and a variety of materials founded that offer a glimpse of life in the castle, in its many facets. And yet the elegant Montegridolfo that has retained its fortified village and the noble Saludecio, surrounded by walls and the only ace of spades bastion within the entire province.

The route finishes at Mondaino, where its walls preserve virtually the whole perimeter and presents itself with the same elegant palatium as the formwork of Sismondo Castle, that overlooks a harmonious square in the form of a semicircle.