Discover Montoro: Forest, Churches and History

Montoro offers several clearly distinct themes to consider when planning a trip: the biodiversity of the Selva di Montoro, two churches with different floor plans, the history of the Battle of Filottrano, and the annual Contesa dello Stivale. There is also a specific connection to cycling. If you are looking for hotels in Montoro, these highlights can help you choose a destination that matches the interests you want your trip to focus on.

Forest and biodiversity

Among the observed forest areas, the Selva di Montoro had the highest degree of biodiversity. This finding is based on an ecological assessment conducted as part of an institutional forest inventory. It places a specific forest area at the heart of Montoro’s connection with nature. The finding compares the biodiversity of the observed forest areas, providing a distinct theme alongside the churches, local history and cultural tradition.

Churches with different floor plans

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione has a rectangular floor plan. A single nave ends in a square apse with a groin vault. The Chiesa Sacro Cuore di Gesù, by contrast, is laid out in the shape of a Greek cross. A Greek cross has arms of equal length; here, the single nave ends in a semicircular apse. In addition, the main altar of the Sacro Cuore is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The floor plan and the end of the nave are especially useful points of comparison: at Santa Maria, the rectangular layout meets the square, vaulted apse; Sacro Cuore combines the cross-shaped plan with a semicircular apse. The apse is the space at the end of the nave, so its different shape offers another specific point of comparison. At the Sacro Cuore, the dedication of the main altar adds another architectural detail.

History and tradition

On 1 July 1944, during the Battle of Filottrano, German troops occupied positions in Montoro. The date establishes when this took place, while the name of the battle identifies its historical context. This distinguishes the event from the annual historical reenactment of the Contesa dello Stivale: one refers to an event from 1944, the other to a recurring tradition.

Montoro is one of the seven Contrade that compete for the boot in the Contesa dello Stivale, and participates as a Contrada in the annual historical reenactment. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the relevant edition in advance. The annual nature describes the tradition; for your specific plans, the date of the edition is what matters.

Cycling in Montoro

A report dated 20 September 2023 described the Unione Sportiva Montoro as a local cycling club. It stated that, at the time, the club had been organizing a cycling race for the Under and Elite categories for 35 years. The duration is therefore tied to the time of that report. Cycling adds another point of interest alongside architecture, local history and festival tradition: a specific club and racing history involving two named categories.

Discover more destinations: Marcelli, Scapezzano, San Biagio, Monterado, Poggio D'ancona, Arcevia, Montesicuro, Morro D'alba.

For the broader travel overview: Ancona.