The route starts off in Bertinoro running alongside the lower part of the castle, built on the spungone rock and goes down through the green hills up to the suggestive Casticciano Sanctuary. From here you can enjoy a breathtaking view on both the Adriatic coast and, on the opposite side, the highest ridges of the Appennines of the Tuscany-Romagna region. The route continues ending up in Fratta Terme. This route is particularly fascinating at sunset, when you can enjoy the play of light in the intersection of valleys and hills.
Waters route
Useful Information
Points of interest
Bertinoro Castle
The fortress is first mentioned in ancient documents dating back to before the year one thousand. It was undoubtedly built for defensive purposes, as it clings to the rock spurs of the Spungone and symbolizes a perfect symbiosis between architecture and nature.
Porta del Soccorso (Relief Gateway)
The gateway was once one of the main entrances to the town. It ows its name to the tradition that it was from this point that Aldruda di Frangipane , Countess of Bertinoro in the 12th century, sent her forces to relieve the city of Ancona, besieged by the troops of Archbishop Cristiano di Magonza in 1172.
Sanctuary of Casticciano
Casticciano was one of the first human settlements in the territory of Bertinoro and, certainly, an ancient site for the production of wine, as evidenced by the numerous Roman terracotta amphorae which have been found around the hill. It also hosts a fascinating and important seventeenth-century church, which is said to be the scene of miraculous events, as narrated also by the paintings found inside the Sanctuary.
Romagna, the land of Spungone
It is the territory that takes its name from the rocky cliffs upon which the fortresses of Bertinoro, Meldola, Predappio and Castrocaro were built. A naturalistic area which preserves an important biological and food and wine variety, together with several thermal water springs.
Fratta Terme
Definitely worth a visit to take advantage of the benefits to health and beauty, this unique thermal spa in Italy stands out for the number of healing water springs: there are at least 7 different types, all with beneficial qualities.
Fratta Terme Park
The huge park hosts several trees dating back to the ‘30s, when the park was planted, and various exotic and evergreen species. Crossed by the Rio Salso stream, it also hosts valuable architectural elements (statues, stairways, balustrades) which maintain the same style of the nearby spa center.
Thermal waters
The thermal waters of this area are divided up into sulfurous and bromide and iodine salts waters and can be used for baths or thermal mud. They have several therapeutic, cosmetic and hygenic properties. The benefits of these waters have been well known since ancient times: not only were they used for hygenic and cleaning purposes, but also for beauty treatments.
Three Saints Gateway
The gateway takes its name from the presence in the vicinity of the “Badia Vecchia”(Old Abbey), which conserved the relics of the French Bishop Saints (Saaint Pascasius, Magloire and Samson), brought by the Breton Pilgrims from whom Bertinoro derives its name. It once served as a check point, it was necessary to pay a toll to enter the town.
