3552 San Leo

[LEFT][FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Sitting on top of a stupendous crag high above the Valle di Marecchia, few people can fail to notice the mighty Rocca hanging precariously above the village of San Leo. According to popular belief San Leo was once the mightiest and most powerful stronghold in Europe; perched on rocky outcrops all fortifications in the Montefeltro were virtually unassailable. St Leo of Dalmatia apparently founded San Leo in the 4th century. [/FONT][/FONT][/LEFT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Dante once stayed in San Leo and mentioned it in Purgatorio. St. Francis of Assisi came across some celebrations taking place at the Rocca di San Leo and decided to attend. He began to stir up interest amongst the crowd. Count Orlando dei Cattini, Lord of Chiusi della Verna and owner of most of the Casentino Apennines was also present at this gathering. He was so impressed by the teaching of Saint Francis that he donated part of his territory, a mountainous area known as La Verna, to be used as a sanctuary for meditation and prayer; this was back in 1213.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Back to San Leo…there’s only one entrance to the village and it is an impressive way to get in. The village is tiny and Piazza Dante is where you will find most of the action at this time of year. [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Things to see: Cattedrale di San Leo, Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta, Palazzo della Rovere and the fortezza rinascimentale (the Rocca) The museo d’arte sacra houses some interesting works from the 14th century. [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Not only is the Rocca di San Leo the most impressive looking in the Montefeltro, it is inextricably linked to the fate of one of the most enigmatic and talked about figures in Italian culture, Giuseppe Balsamo, aka count Alessandro Cagliostro.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]According to local legend, whenever there’s a full moon in San Leo, Cagliostro’s ghost can apparently be seen standing by road that leads up to the fortress. There is also a small liquorificio in Via Rosa that makes and sells Antico Balsamo Cagliostro, a delicate liqueur made from aromatic herbs. The producers claim, with tongue in cheek, that their elixir has the same thaumaturgical properties as the original produced by Cagliostro himself. [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Typical dishes: Pasticciata alla Cagliostro (marinated beef stewed in red wine), Tortelloni di San Leo and Coniglio al finocchio selvatico (rabbit with wild fennel). [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]Where to eat: Locanda San Leone in Strada Sant’Antimo 102.[/FONT][/FONT]

Ufficio Turismo Palazzo Mediceo – Piaza Dante Alighieri Tel: 0039 0541 916306

Museo Civico della Fortezza (the Rocca): Visiting hours: 09:00 to 18:00 weekdays and 09:00 – 18:30 weekends.

Museo di San Leo Piazza Dante Alighieri 14, Tel: 0039 0541 926967 e-mail: [EMAIL="musei.san.leo@provincia.ps.it"][COLOR=#0000ff]musei.san.leo@provincia.ps.it[/COLOR][/EMAIL]