DISCOVERING THE HINTERLAND - SAN LEO

SAN LEO

San Leo, formerly known as Montefeltro, is situated at 583 meters above sea level, 32 km. from Rimini, in the Marecchia Valley (SS 258), on a huge rocky boulder all around impassable; it is accessed by a single road cut into the rock.

On the highest point of the spur stands the impregnable Fortress, remodeled by Francesco di Giorgio Martini in the 15th century by order of Federico lll da Montefeltro.

The ancient city, which was the capital (from origin to end) of the county of Montefeltro and the scene of civil and military battles for about two millennia, assumed with Berengar II the title of Capital of ltaly (962-964). St. Leo (4th cent. AD) was its evangelizer.

The town hosted Dante ("Vassi in San Leo...") and St. Francis of Assisi, who received the Monte della Verna here as a gift from Count Orlando of Chiusi in Casentino (1213). The room where the conversation between the two men took place is still preserved.

The panorama from San Leo is one of the most beautiful and characteristic in the region the view sweeps over the surrounding mountains and along, the Marecchia valley, to the sea.

From the rocks of Mount San Severino it is possible to take off with a paraglider.