Discover Tavullia: Heritage and Landscape

In Tavullia, travel interests range from medieval buildings and church art to natural features and routes. You can focus on heritage, landscape or cycling and plan your journey accordingly. The various sites and routes offer different perspectives: they tell the story of the municipality, showcase remarkable works of art or lead through its landscape.

Castles, Churches and Places of Remembrance

Tomba Castle dates back to the Middle Ages and was known as Castrum Tumbae Montis Pilosi. From its walls, views extend to Montefeltro, the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines. Here, the castle’s history and sweeping views across three named regions come together.

Other historic sites offer different points of interest. Torre di Pirano is the ruin of a fortress that was used for observation because of its strategic location. Only the south and east walls of the castle in Belvedere Fogliense remain. In Montechiaro, the QUOTA 204 monument commemorates the breakthrough by Canadian Allied troops through German defensive positions between August and September 1944.

Religious art and relics are also part of the area’s cultural heritage. The Church of San Lorenzo Martire preserves the relics of the catacomb saint San Pio; they are carried in a procession on the first Sunday in May. The church also houses the painting “The Last Supper” by Nicolò da Pesaro, known as Trometta. San Donato preserves the relics of Blessed Ugolino delle Caminate. It is also home to “Madonna in trono col Bambino,” considered a rare example of Romanesque wood art from the Marche region. A mural in Tavullia depicts the face of motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi.

Routes and Cycling

Tavullia is the lead municipality for the Tour dei Campioni, a permanent cycling tourism route. This offers a distinct starting point for a trip focused on cycling. An old road from Case Bernardi to Padiglione can be travelled by bicycle or on horseback. The Strada marrone route leads from Babbucce to Belvedere through the characteristic agricultural landscape.

Another tourist route starts in San Martino in Foglia and follows the river. It passes an old mill and, after crossing the provincial road, continues to the foot of the walls of Belvedere Fogliense. Along the way, it passes a sulphur spring. By contrast, the Strada marrone route focuses mainly on the connection between Babbucce and Belvedere through the agricultural landscape; the old road is notable for the option of travelling by bicycle or on horseback.

Landscape and Nature

The ridge of Monteluro is home to stones of volcanic origin and fossils from the Pliocene. Valmala, locally known as “Foss del gnocc,” is a valley of natural history interest. There, nature has reclaimed a place that was once inhabited. These two sites offer different insights into the landscape: Monteluro is notable for its geological features, while Valmala is a valley whose former settlement is part of its natural history today.

Valmala’s spring flora is also distinctive: it includes wild orchid species that do not grow at lower elevations. Visitors interested in nature can therefore choose between geological features and seasonal plant life as different focuses for their trip.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Belvedere Fogliense is about 11 km from Tavullia. The road route follows provincial road 38 and then the SP 17; check the current route before setting off. If travelling by train, consider the stations at Pesaro or Cattolica, followed by a local bus. Check current timetables before your trip.

If you are looking for a hotel in Tavullia, you can plan your trip around your preferred focus: castles and churches, landscape features or routes. This is a good way to decide which aspects of the area matter most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Cagli, Borgo Pace, Saltara, Mondolfo, Torrette, Borgo Santa Maria, Isola di Fano, Santa Veneranda

Return to the main travel overview: Pesaro - Urbino.