Monterado

1. The Fairytale Palace: Monterado Castle The village is dominated by the bulk of Palazzo Cinciari (or Monterado Castle), which immediately catches the eye.

• The illustrious signature: It is not just any palace. Its current appearance is due to the genius of Luigi Vanvitelli (the architect of the Royal Palace of Caserta!), who intervened in the eighteenth century to transform it.
• Historical Gossip: This castle hosted an imperial “honeymoon.” Prince Maximilian de Beauharnais (Napoleon’s stepson and grandson of Empress Josephine) stayed here after his marriage to the daughter of the Tsar of Russia. The interiors, rich in nineteenth-century frescoes, still tell the story of this pomp. Even though it is a private residence, its presence “nobbilizes” the entire square in front.

2. The Green Lung: The Forest of Secular Pines In front of the castle there is a rarity for the villages of the Marche: a monumental forest of 7 hectares.

• What you will see: It is not a wild bush, but a park planted in the mid-nineteenth century by Count Cerasi. Strolling among centuries-old pines, majestic oaks, and laurels in the heart of the historic center is a surreal experience.
• The atmosphere: It is the place of silence and coolness, perfect in summer. The trails are easy and flat, ideal for a digestive walk or reading a book in the shadow of the green giants.

3. Gastronomy: The Goletta Festival The table here also has its specificities.

• The Specialty: If Ripe and Castel Colonna compete for the porchetta, Monterado (especially in the hamlet of Ponte Rio) is famous for the Goletta Festival. The “guletta” is the pig’s cheek (the guanciale), which is celebrated here in all forms, especially seasoned with sage and garlic on the coals. It is an ancient, fatty and delicious flavour, which tells the true peasant tradition.
• Typical Products: The area is full of handcrafted pork butchers where you can buy larded salami and lonze of the highest quality.

4. The Balcony on the Adriatic (and beyond) Monterado’s location (161 m above sea level) is enviable.

• The Panorama: From the square and the woods the view is spectacular. The Cesano valley opens like a fan to the sea.
• The Curiosity: On clear winter days, when the north wind blows, from here you can clearly see the coast of Croatia beyond the Adriatic. It is one of the privileged vantage points in the hinterland for this phenomenon.

Logistic Tips for the visit

• How long does it take: One hour is enough. Monterado is small and everything revolves around the Castle Square.
• The right time: The sunset is magical for the light that hits the facade of the palace.
• The Pairing: Being just a stone’s throw from the Cesano River, you can combine a cultural visit with a nature walk along the bike path that runs along the river downstream, perfect for families and cyclists.