Novafeltria (formerly Mercatino, Marecchia, Marcatein in Romagna) is an Italian town of 7 074 inhabitants in the province of Rimini in Emilia-Romagna. It is the seat of the Union of Municipalities of the Marecchia Valley.
Its municipal territory also includes the hamlets of Perticara, Miniera di Perticara, Ponte Molino Baffoni, Sartiano, Secchiano Marecchia, Torricella and Uffogliano.
By plane
Rimini Airport (approximately
40 km)
Forlì airport (about 60 km away)
Ancona airport (approximately 125 km)
Bologna Airport (approximately 120 km)
By car
From the north, take the
A14 motorway in the direction of Ancona, exit at Cesena Nord, follow the
direction of Rome-Ravenna,
continue on the SS 3BIS / E45, exit in the direction of Monte Castello -
Montepetra - Romagnano, turn onto the SP 138 in the direction of Rome
and continue following signs for Novafeltria.
From the south, take
the A14 motorway in the direction of Naples,
follow the direction of Pescara, exit at Rimini
Sud, follow the direction of Repubblica San Marino, cross Cerasolo,
entry into San Marino territory, cross Serravalle, Fiorina, Domagnano,
Borgo Maggiore, Acquaviva, entry in Italian territory, cross Pietracuta
and continue following signs for Novafeltria.
On boat
Tourist port of
Pesaro (approximately 70 km)
Port of Ancona
(approximately 130 km).
It is connected to the ports of Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Albania,
Montenegro.
On the train
Rimini railway station, continue with
the FER buses, Rimini-Novafeltria line.
By bus
Adriabus bus lines
FER bus (Rimini-Novafeltria line)
1 Church of S. Pietro in Culto. One of the many parish churches in
the valley, it dates back to the 10th century and belongs to the ancient
nucleus of the city.
Oratory of Santa Marina, Piazza Vittorio
Emanuele. The bell tower is a seventeenth-century work, and completes
the older religious building, dating back to 1191; the church is of
Romanesque architecture, built in sandstone.
2 Fountain, Piazza
Vittorio Emanuele. Work of the stonecutters Doddi brothers from
Mercatino in 1897.
3 Town Hall, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. It was a
sumptuous villa of the Segni counts of Bologna, feudal lords of the
city, who built it in 1660. The building is characterized by the Art
Nouveau style which is still visible today in the original furnishings
of the Caffè Grand'Italia housed on the ground floor of the building.
Social Theatre. An example of Art Nouveau and Art Deco style, it was
inaugurated in 1925. It retains the original ceiling with pink and green
stucco.
Mills. Located along the river, they bear witness to an
ancient milling activity. In part they are still active for the milling
of cereals and for the production of electricity. A gunpowder mill has
been restored and retains its equipment. Its production was linked to
the presence of sulfur mines in Perticara.
A Novafeltria-Rimini
railway line (no longer existing) was built for the transport of sulfur
and gunpowder.
Sulfur - Historical Mining Museum (In the hamlet of
Perticara). One of the most important and well-stocked in Europe, which
documents the impressive activity continued over the centuries for the
extraction of sulfur and collects archaeological evidence ranging from
the Bronze Age to the Umbrian, Etruscan and Roman civilizations. It is
located in the hamlet of Perticara, an ancient mining centre.
4
Adventure Park. On the mountain overlooking Novafeltria, Monte Pincio
(900 m above sea level), there is a centenary chestnut grove and a vast
pine forest, which hosts the "Avventura" park.
The municipal area is equipped with leisure facilities, including the recently restored theatre, library, disco, indoor swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, sports fields, motocross track, cycle path along the Marecchia river, camping.
Average prices
Corte del Sasso, Via Cà Gianessi n.47, ☎ +39 0541
921742, info@cortedelsasso.it.
Al Caminetto, Via Cappelli, 30 (in the
hamlet of Secchiano), ☎ +39 0541 912332.
Trattoria Del Turista da
Marchesi, Via Ca' Gianessi, 7, ☎ +39 0541 920148.
Trattoria Della
Nonna, Via Verdi, 40, ☎ +39 0541 921152.
Due Lanterne, Via
Torricella, 215 (in Cà del Vento), ☎ +39 0541 920200.
Fuori Squadro,
Via Manzoni,46, ☎ +39 0541 920054.
The Park, Via della Gaggia, 7, ☎
+39 0541 922018.
Il Somaro, Via Uffogliano, 9 (in the hamlet of Ponte
S. Maria Maddalena), ☎ +39 0541 923670.
La Jungla dei Castagni,
Frazione Uffugliano, 145 (in Uffugliano), ☎ +39 0541 923186,
info@jungladeicastagni.it.
La Locanda dei Venti, Via Torricella, 2110
(in Ca' del Vento), ☎ +39 0541 926257.
Average prices
Magda, Via Saffi, 55, ☎ +39 0541 920817,
dabiordi@hotmail.com.
Pian del Bosco, Via Pian del Bosco, 151 (in the
hamlet of Perticara), ☎ +39 0541 927600, pdb@piandelbosco.com.
Spiga
d'Oro, Via Mulino (in the hamlet of Ponte S. Maria Maddalena), ☎ +39
0541 923008, info@ristorantespigadoro.it
Camping
Perticara,
Via Serra Masini 10D (in Perticara), ☎ +39 0541 927602,
info@campingperticara.com.
Carabinieri, Via Aldo Moro, 3, ☎ +39 0541 919500.
State Police,
Via Rino Molari, 7, ☎ +39 0541 926162.
Location and General Setting
The town sits approximately 30 km (19
mi) south of Rimini on the Adriatic coast and 130 km (81 mi) southeast
of Bologna. Its coordinates are roughly 43°53′–54′ N, 12°17′–18′ E. The
municipal territory spans 41.84 km² with an exclave (including parts of
Secchiano and Uffogliano). It borders several other communes: Maiolo,
Pennabilli, Poggio Torriana, San Leo, Sant'Agata Feltria, and Talamello
in Rimini Province, plus Mercato Saraceno and Sogliano al Rubicone in
Forlì-Cesena Province. The area also touches the historical boundaries
of Marche and Tuscany.
The town itself occupies a relatively flat
section of the valley floor at about 275 m (902 ft) above sea level,
along the SS 258 Marecchiese road and directly on the Marecchia River.
This position historically made it a market hub at the convergence of
routes to nearby centers like San Leo, Talamello, and Sant'Agata
Feltria.
Topography and Terrain
Novafeltria lies in the
northern Apennines (Apennine Mountains), within a dynamic landscape
shaped by the Valmarecchia Nappe—a complex tectonic unit of
allochthonous (thrust) sheets from Ligurian and Epiligurian formations
overlying Umbro-Marchean sequences. This geology produces high
geodiversity, including differential erosion landforms such as gullies,
badlands (calanchi), cliffs, and rocky spurs.
The municipality's
elevation ranges from a low of about 128 m in the lower valley areas to
a high of 1,096 m, with an average elevation around 473 m. The central
part of Novafeltria occupies the broader, gentler "flat heart" of the
Valmarecchia, characterized by rolling hills and cultivated plateaus.
Upstream (higher/valley head), the terrain becomes narrower and steeper
with more mountainous features. Downstream toward Rimini, it widens into
gentler hills.
Prominent landmarks include Monte Pincio (around 900
m) and nearby Monte Aquilone in the frazione of Perticara. These rise
dramatically above the valley with steep slopes, offering panoramic
views. The landscape mixes harmonious green hills and agricultural
fields with striking calcareous/sandstone rock outcrops—classic of the
Montefeltro and Valmarecchia area. Nearby dramatic spurs (often topped
by historic castles in adjacent towns) contrast with the cultivated
lowlands.
Hydrography
The Marecchia River (about 70 km long
overall) is the defining hydrological feature. It originates in Tuscany
on the slopes of Monte dei Frati/Monte Zucca (Alpe della Luna area,
elevations ~930–1,450 m) and flows northward through Novafeltria's
territory before emptying into the Adriatic at Rimini. In the upper
basin around Novafeltria, it has a torrential character with seasonal
flow variations. The river has shaped the valley over time through
fluvial erosion and deposition, creating fertile alluvial plains in the
flatter sections suitable for settlement and milling. Smaller torrents
and streams feed into it from the surrounding hills.
Climate
Novafeltria has a temperate climate influenced by its inland Apennine
position (somewhat more continental than the Rimini coast). Sources
classify it as Köppen Cfb (oceanic) or Cfa (humid subtropical), with
mild-to-warm summers and cold winters. The annual average temperature is
approximately 12.4°C (54.3°F). Precipitation totals around 900–960 mm
(35–38 inches) per year and occurs throughout the seasons, often peaking
in autumn.
Summers (June–August): Warm and mostly clear, with
average highs around 27–29°C in July.
Winters (December–February):
Cold and partly cloudy, with lows near or below freezing (January
averages around 3°C overall, with minima near 0°C or lower).
It falls
in Italian climate zone E (2,294 heating degree days), indicating
significant winter heating needs.
The area experiences notable
seasonal temperature swings and occasional snow in higher elevations or
winter. It benefits from good sunshine in summer but can have foggy or
overcast periods in the valley.
Geology, Natural Resources, and
Vegetation
The Valmarecchia Nappe contributes to unique features,
including evaporite deposits (gypsum and sulfur) that supported historic
mining—most notably the large sulfur mines in Perticara (one of Europe's
major sites historically, with extensive tunnels; now a museum).
Evidence of mining dates back to ancient times (Bronze Age through Roman
periods). Secchiano has gypsum outcrops. The area is also noted for
geomorphological heritage, including cliffs and landslide-prone slopes.
Vegetation reflects the Apennine environment: higher slopes (e.g.,
around Monte Pincio/Perticara) feature chestnut groves, extensive pine
forests (some planted), and mixed woodlands. Lower areas support
agriculture—cereals, vines, olives, and pastures. The valley floor and
hillsides show a mosaic of cultivated land and natural cover,
contributing to the "lush, green" character often described in tourism
literature.
Prehistoric, Ancient, and Early Medieval Origins (Bronze Age to ~13th
Century)
The earliest human presence in the territory of what is now
Novafeltria is concentrated in the hamlet of Perticara, an ancient
mining center where archaeological evidence points to settlements from
the Bronze Age. The area was subsequently inhabited by the Umbri,
Etruscans, and Romans, with possible traces of a Roman vicus (small
settlement) underlying later religious structures.
The first clear
documentary evidence of a residential nucleus dates to around 950 AD,
when the Pieve di San Pietro in Culto (Parish Church of Saint Peter in
Culto, or “on cultivated land”) was established. This makes it one of
the oldest pievi (rural parishes) in the Montefeltro area and a key site
in the religious and civil history of Valmarecchia. It likely arose on
or near an older Roman-era site during the period of Christian
evangelization in the valley.
By the late 12th century, the Oratory
of Santa Marina (datable to around 1191 in an advanced Romanesque style)
emerged as another focal point, linked to the growth of the early
settlement nuclei known as Mercato vecchio (old market) and Mercato
nuovo (new market). A second church appeared nearby in the 13th century.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the dominant settlement pattern in
the region shifted to incastellamento (fortified hilltop villages). The
ancient lowland nucleus fell under the jurisdiction of the important
episcopal castle of Talamello. The open, unwalled nature of the market
settlement—similar to nearby Mercatino Conca—allowed it to function
primarily as a trading and meeting place rather than a fortified
stronghold. Its location at the confluence of routes to San Leo,
Talamello, and Sant’Agata Feltria supported periodic fairs, especially
in August.
Feudal Period and Rise as a Commercial Center
(14th–18th Centuries)
In the 14th century, the area remained tied to
Talamello’s feudal jurisdiction. Key hamlets like Uffogliano (with its
castle featuring a keep and tower, later partially demolished in 1458 by
Sigismondo Malatesta) and Secchiano (with medieval castle ruins and the
ancient Pieve of Santa Maria in Vico) developed as rural strongholds.
A pivotal shift occurred in the early 17th century under the Counts of
Segni (Segni family) from Bologna. In 1621–22, nine houses were detached
from Talamello’s fief (then held by the Malatesta of the Sogliano
branch) as part of a dowry arrangement involving the Bentivoglio family
of Bologna. Further seizures in 1628 brought another 19 families under
Bentivoglio control. After Alessandro Bentivoglio’s death, rights passed
to the Segni family, who held feudal jurisdiction until 1796.
The
Segni counts constructed a luxurious villa in the settlement (late 17th
century, possibly on the site of an older Malatesta inn), which today
serves as the Municipal Hall (Palazzo Segni) and defines one side of the
main square. This period marked the town’s transformation into a
significant agricultural and commercial hub, with the Mercatino
Marecchia name reflecting its role as a small periodic market.
19th Century: Infrastructure Growth and Administrative Shifts
Following the end of feudalism, the area was incorporated into the Papal
States. From 1804 to 1910, it remained administratively part of
Talamello. In 1818, Talamello (including Mercatino) was transferred from
the Legation of Forlì to the Delegation of Urbino and Pesaro (in what
later became the Marche region).
The 19th century brought physical
expansion:
Via Mazzini (1814–1877) replaced the old postal road
as the main western axis.
Via Garibaldi opened in 1904, cutting
through the old market area.
In 1874, municipal offices relocated
from Talamello to Mercatino, signaling the latter’s growing economic
importance.
A preserved historical structure from this era is the
area’s last remaining powder mill, restored as public property, which
used hydraulic power for gunpowder production.
20th Century:
Municipal Independence, Infrastructure, and Name Change
On March 24,
1907 (effective 1910), the Comune of Mercatino Marecchia was formally
established by detaching several hamlets (Sartiano, Torricella,
Perticara, Secchiano, Uffogliano) from Talamello. Further adjustments in
1928 incorporated Libiano from Sant’Agata Feltria and territories from
suppressed communes (some of which regained autonomy in 1945).
A
major economic boost came in 1922 with the inauguration of the
narrow-gauge Rimini–Mercatino Marecchia railway (terminus at
Novafeltria). It primarily transported sulfur from the Perticara mines
(via a 6 km cableway) and gypsum from Secchiano to the Adriatic coast.
The line operated until 1960, when it was replaced by buses; the station
and locomotive shed remain visible landmarks.
In 1941, during the
Fascist era, the town was renamed Novafeltria to evoke its deep ties to
the Montefeltro historical region (from Latin Mons Feretri or similar
ancient toponyms).
Perticara’s sulfur mining legacy is preserved in
the Historical Mining Museum (opened 1970), which documents centuries of
extraction alongside prehistoric to Roman artifacts.
Modern Era
and Regional Transfer (Post-WWII to Present)
After World War II,
Novafeltria developed as the economic and service hub of Valmarecchia,
with cultural assets like the restored Teatro Sociale (an Art Nouveau
theater inaugurated in 1925, funded by 72 local families).
A
significant administrative change occurred in the 2000s. On December
17–18, 2006, a referendum saw 82.2% of voters approve detachment from
the Province of Pesaro and Urbino (Marche region) to join the Province
of Rimini (Emilia-Romagna). The transfer was formalized on August 15,
2009, via national law, reflecting long-standing cultural and economic
ties to Romagna despite prior Marche affiliation.
Today, Novafeltria
(population around 7,000) blends its medieval market heritage with
modern valley-center functions. Its hamlets (Libiano, Perticara,
Sartiano, Secchiano Marecchia, Torricella, etc.) retain distinct
historical identities—castles, pievi, and rural architecture—while the
main town features the Palazzo Segni, churches, and preserved
infrastructure as tangible links to its layered past.
Alongside the Italian language, the local variant of the Romagna language is spoken. A notable characteristic of the market, shared with other dialects of the Alta Valmarecchia, is that it has only partially accepted the northern sound.
Soccer
The Vis Novafeltria football team, founded in 2011, plays
in Eccellenza and the club colors are blue and yellow; the previous
sports club, however, was born from the ashes of AC Perticara, at the
time of the closure of the sulfur mine.