Second leg: from Villa Verucchio to San Leo

-> next leg: from San Leo to Sant'Agata Feltria

<- previous leg: from Rimini to Villa Verucchio

UPDATE JUNE 2021

We point out that in the locality of Torello the route is affected by the construction site of the new pipeline. In the first part you need to make a detour and then there is still a short but passable stretch of construction site.

We therefore suggest the variant.

At the entrance to Torello, instead of arriving at the provincial Marecchiese, at the crossroads, turn left onto via Torello, then via Grandone, which runs parallel to the Marecchiese and flows into it at the entrance to the town of Pietracuta. Cross it (be careful !!), to take the road in front of you, entering the town and passing the whole center on Viale Umberto I. Immediately after the Post Office, which is on the left, turn right into Via Don Luigi Sturzo , then immediately left into Via Pablo Neruda which runs all the way up to a clearing with a footbridge over the Mazzocco stream where it rejoins the main route. Download GPS deviation of the pedestrian path to Torello

The route goes into the beautiful landscape of the middle-high Valmarecchia, dominated by rugged cliffs and crowned by fortresses. You  walk mainly on roads unpaved and some stretches of asphalt. From the cloister of Santa Croce you continue straight on Via Convento, getting off at SP Marecchiese, and after it you come back to the historic and naturalistic trail along the right bank of the Marecchia to Ponte Verucchio. Here you cross the river and proceed on the left bank just below the rocky cliff on which stands the hermitage of Madonna di Saiano. After a few hundred meters a moving iron bridge guarantees, during the summer,  to get back on the ford across the river. In the months when it is not possible to cross the river, you can proceed to walking towards to Ponte Verucchio with the variant described in the guide.

After crossing Marecchia River you can keep going on the naturalist trail to Ponte Santa Maria Maddalena. From here there are some roads that starting to go up and alternating asphalt and unpaved paths, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of  San Leo (still distant), Pincio and Aquilone Mountains also known as the "Bishop Sleeping", for the unmistakable shape that is considered an important point of orientation for Pilgrims’s Romea Path who came down to Rimini to pass though Valmarecchia and then walk towards Rome by Viamaggio Pass (called “Via Major”). After crossing pastures, cultivated fields and wooded patches, you reach the Cloister of Sant'Igne, one of the most important point of the itinerary.

According to an oral tradition, dating back at least to sec. XVI, St. Francis and Monk Leo came to the front door of St. Leo in the evening and they found it closed. Here a flame guided them through the darkness and inclement weather, up to a group of huts where they were hosted by local shepherds. The Saint in memory of this event founded the cloister, that’s dates back reliably 1244. The building still guards the trunk of the elm under which, according to oral tradition, St. Francis preached in San Leo.

From the convent the town of San Leo is easily accessible, by the final stretch with the beautiful view of the cliff dominated by the imposing fortress, such as recalls Dante's Divine Comedy.

Hence the May 8, 1213 St. Francis received as a gift from Count Orlando Catani of Chiusi, the mountain of La Verna, which became one of the most important places in the history of Franciscans. This episode is considered so significant for the town which St. Francis is depicted in the civic emblem under the elm tree from which he preached.

On the central Dante square stands Palazzo Nardini, within which is located the room, converted into a chapel, where it would take place the meeting between St. Francis and the Count Orlando Catani.

Download track 2nd leg GPX format

Distance: 22.3 km

Height difference: +909 m, -457 m

Times: from Villa Verucchio to San Leo 6:h 30 '. ; from San Leo Villa Verucchio 6 h 00 '. 

HOSPITALITY

IAT San Leo, +39 0541 916306 / 926967, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.san-leo.it 

In San Leo:

• B&B Montefeltro, +39 339 832 2968, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• B&B Palazzo Serre, +39 366 7318735, www.palazzoserre.it
• Albergo e ristorante Al Castello, +39 0541 916214, www.hotelristorantecastellosanleo.com
• Affittacamere Arcobaleno, +39 331 3223311 - +39 366 8745859, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Osteria Belvedere (camere e ristorante), +39 0541 916361, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In Maiolo:

• Agriturismo La Boscara,  0541 916109 - 339 7496066, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ATTENTION: for summer 2020 this accommodation facility will be closed

TOUR OPERATORS

APPENNINO SLOW, 379 1528959 - 339 8283383, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FRANCESCO'S WAYS, 370 1106929, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

RESTAURANT POINTS ALONG THE WAY

In Verucchio: Tiee Cibo&Vino, +39 339 4892376

In Verucchio: PiadaStyle www.piadastyle.it, +39 0541 677354 bar, piadineria, call before

In Torello: Bar Torello, +39 0541 923069

In Pietracuta bar and foods

In Ponte Santa Maria Maddalena: ristorante Vini & crostini2, +39 0541 923670 - +39 388 4267112