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Verucchio, an oasis of history and beauty in the Marecchia Valley
The medieval town of Verucchio, cradle of the Malatesta family, nestles in the beautiful hills of Romagna
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What is it and where is Verucchio, a village in the hinterland of Rimini
Verucchio is a village in the hills of Romagna a short distance from the sea, caressed by the Marecchia River. Rimini is not far away, about twenty minutes by car, and in fact from the highest points of the village, on particularly clear days, the sea can be seen. But the beauty of Verucchio's historic center should not be sought far: the medieval village tells the story of a noble family, the Malatesta, and takes us on a journey through time. But with a little attention we can go even farther, just leave the medieval alleys and enter the archaeological museum of Verucchio.
Why it's special: Verucchio, cradle of the Malatesta.
Verucchio, like other towns in the area, is also built on a hill in the Marecchia Valley and is home to the well-preserved Rocca Malatestiana, which is particularly important because it is considered that it was here that the lineage of the powerful Malatesta family originated with Malatesta da Verrucchio (son of Malatesta I della Penna, a kinship that leads nearby Pennabilli to claim the family's birthplace). For those who love history, strolling through the cobblestone alleys, approaching the defensive walls, admiring from below up the civic tower and the fortress, is definitely an unmissable pleasure.
Not to be missed: the archaeological museum - Verucchio and the Villanovans.
Walking through the historic center, one comes across a stone building with a beautiful colonnade: it is the ancient monastery of Sant'Agostino, which today houses the archaeological museum. On display inside is an important collection of artifacts from the earliest phase of Etruscan civilization: the Villanovan. The finds come mainly from necropolises found in the area, and they suggest that Verucchio, at that time, was the real nerve center of the area, well before Rimini. The beautiful Verucchio, then, besides being the cradle of the Malatesta family, is also an important center of Villanovan study, a concentration of history and curiosities.
A little history: Malatesta da Verucchio, a true celebrity
Malatesta da Verucchio is one of the progenitors of the Malatesta family who is remembered for two particular aspects: he was particularly long-lived, especially for his time: he lived to be exactly 100 years old. This is why he was known as "Mastin Vecchio" and it is with this name that we find him in Dante's Inferno (Canto XXVII verses 46-48): "E il Mastin Vecchio e il Nuovo, che fecer di Montagna il mal governo, là dove soglion fan d'i denti succhio."
Curiosity: the hamlet of Villa Verucchio and the monumental cypress tree
Downstream from the historic center lies the hamlet of Villa Verucchio. Here there is an obligatory stop for St. Francis worshippers: the Convent of Santa Croce, probably the oldest Franciscan site in the region. St. Francis is said to have stopped here on his way to Rimini and built a shelter that later became a chapel that was rebuilt again and again. Original, on the other hand, would be the monumental cypress tree in the cloister, which grew from the staff that had supported Francis on his journey and which he planted here. And it is in the shadow of this cypress tree that we think back on how much History we went through on a simple, wonderful visit to Verucchio.
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