Artistic and Culinary Traditions Between Emilia Romagna and Marche

Leave your car in this convenient paid car park near the centre and start discovering Faenza.

Go straight into the streets of the old town centre, until you reach Piazza del Popolo.
In this square, the heart of the city, you can see the Clock Tower (or Torre Civica), blown up by the Germans in 1944 and faithfully rebuilt in 1953. The Tower is one of Faenza's symbolic monuments and it is a tradition for the people of Faenza to gather at its foot for the New Year's Eve chime.

The Monumental Fountain is another iconic monument of Faenza and for centuries has provided healthy water to the local population.
The fountain is located in Piazza della Libertà, physically joined to its neighbour Piazza del Popolo, so that Faentines generically call this space "piazza".

A few steps further on, you can find Faenza Cathedral, of great importance during the Renaissance period and the city's main place of Catholic worship.
Perhaps you will be surprised by the sober appearance of the outer wall, made of rough brick with a marble band of only 2 metres: the original plan was for the entire cladding to be made of marble, a project that was never fully realised for economic reasons.
The interior, on the other hand, features eight chapels on each side and several remarkable paintings and sculptures.

An unmissable stop on your itinerary is the MIC - Museo Internazionale della Ceramica.
Faenza is in fact famous for having developed, from the 16th century onwards, the art of ceramics to the highest levels, becoming in its own right, throughout the western world, the City of Ceramics par excellence. So much so that its name, in French translation "Faïence", is the synonym for artistic ceramics.
The museum itinerary is divided into two sectors, ancient and contemporary art, bringing together the world's largest collection dedicated to ceramics, with pieces from all over the world.
If you are an enthusiast or if, on the contrary, you are not familiar with this particular form of artistic expression, take your time and do not miss the opportunity to visit this one of a kind museum.
For days and opening hours and ticket prices visit website.

With your eyes full of the museum's artistic beauty, return to the car park and get into your car: a tasty lunch break awaits you in a special place.

A few kilometres from Faenza, on the historic Via Emilia, you will find this piadineria, a real landmark for locals (and not only).
Leave your car in the large car park and look for a menu, the choice will not be easy! The restaurant offers a wide selection of the most typical piadinas, but also fried food, salads and fresh homemade pasta dishes.
Enjoy a relaxing lunch break in this simple and familiar setting, suitable both in summer, with the outdoor garden, and in winter, in the warm indoor room.
The Piadineria is closed on Mondays.
To have a look at the menu and get your mouth watering, visit the website.

Gradara, one of the most beautiful villages in the Marche region, is world-famous for the story of Paolo and Francesca, the two lovers whose tragic love affair was narrated by Dante in The Divine Comedy.
Enter the historical centre through Porta Firau (or Clock Tower) and immediately immerse yourself in this medieval atmosphere of knights and ladies, love and betrayal, wars and torture, religion and secret societies.
Next to the Tower, you will find the IAT - Pro Loco Gradara, the tourist promotion office, open every day, where you can ask for information about the town and, above all, purchase the ticket for visiting the Demesne Fortress and the Ramparts Walk (possibility of purchasing a cumulative ticket).
You can find more information about tickets, timetables and, if you are interested, guided tours, on the official website.

Take this fascinating walk along the ancient defensive walls, erected in the 1300s, and enjoy feeling like a sentinel on guard duty.
After a few initial steps, the stroll is short and easy (about 400 metres).
From here, you can admire the entire village, the surrounding mountains and the Adriatic coast from above, until you descend near an enormous polygonal bastion, annexed to the Fortress.
Continue along this evocative route by entering the castle immediately through the drawbridge.
There are numerous rooms worthy of note, in particular the private room of Francesca da Polenta, the renowned noblewoman who was killed together with her lover Paolo, brother of her husband Gianciotto Malatesta.
Take some time to enjoy this authentic and fascinating atmosphere in an excellently maintained historical building.

The last stop on your visit to Gradara can only be the Church of St John the Baptist, a small church set in the alleys of the centre with a gem inside: a wooden crucifix that changes depending on where you look at it from.
In fact, looking at it from three different perspectives, Christ's expression seems to change: he goes from looking as if he is about to say something, at the moment he takes his last breath, to expressing profound serenity after death.
This unique characteristic has led the crucifix to be venerated for centuries as a miraculous image.

Drive through the quiet roads of the Marche to your hotel in the centre of Urbino and park your car comfortably in the hotel car park (paid service).
Check in and go out to discover the city.

Treat yourself to a pleasant stroll through the streets of the historic centre of Urbino, birthplace of the famous painter Raphael.
And your first stop will be precisely his statue, a tribute to the greatness of the Renaissance artist.
Reach it with a short climb, a small effort that will be repaid by the beauty of the place, a panoramic spot immersed in the greenery of a city park.

Continue your walk through the Resistance Park until you reach the Albornóz Fortress, a fortified construction built in the second half of the 14th century with a defensive function.
Its elevated position (it stands on the highest point of Mount San Sergio) offers a magnificent view of the historical centre of the ducal city, making it a place of great historical and panoramic interest.

After this interesting cultural day, it is time to delight your palate with a well-deserved dinner.
Head straight for Osteria km 0, a restaurant whose name already emphasises the attention paid to the quality and origin of its raw materials.
Here you will find traditional dishes and innovative flavours, skilfully mixed in a blend of the old and the new, all washed down by the excellent wines on the menu.
Don't miss the typical "crescia sfogliata" and a good moka coffee accompanied by a delicious slice of cake, you'll feel right at home.

After dinner, take a leisurely stroll back to the hotel and enjoy a good night's sleep in this beautiful, recently renovated villa, elegantly furnished and equipped with every comfort.
The following morning, weather permitting, you can enjoy a hearty and delicious breakfast (service charge applies) in the private garden, a beautiful oasis tucked away in the urban setting.