San Leo

San Leo stands on a spur whose walls fall sheer  to the Marecchia valley.
Its marvellous fortress (XV century), by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, dominates the valley from the top of the inaccessible cliff. The town ancient in origin, gives the name to the Montefeltro district, being the ancient Roman Mons Feretrius.

Berengarius II made it the capital of Italy from 962 till 964. Saint Leone evangelized it (IV century) and nowadays he is patron saint of the town.
In the historical centre there are the two wonderful churches, namely the Pieve and the Duomo, respectively dating back to the XI and XII century and the civic tower which is now the Duomo bell tower. Surrounding these buildings there is the S. Igne Franciscan convent (1243).
Among famous people Dante Alighieri mentioned San Leo in his Divine Comedy and Saint Francis stopped here to pray. It is here that  he was given the Verna mountain(1213).
Count of Cagliostro spent his last days in a cell of the Fortress.

How to reach it

The shortest car route is from Zadina Pineta to San Leo

Distance: 48,0 km     Time: 36 minutes