Santarcangelo di Romagna
It is impossible to remain unmoved by the charm of this lovely and mysterious area. At the entrance of the village you can see the impressive figure of an arch built between 1773 and 1777 to celebrate the local man, Lorenzo Ganganelli, who was elected to the papacy in 1769 under the title of Pope Clement XIV.
Entering the ancient town of prehistoric origin, there are features of considerable artistic interest: The Collegiate Church, the Romanesque Church of Saint Michael, the Malatestiana fortress which dates back to 1300, and was probably restored by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta in 1447, and the enigmatic Caves of Mons Jovis (Monte Giove), the hill on which the present day centre of Santarcangelo developed in the twelfth century. Ancient, popular legend has it that, in this place, in an as-yet undiscovered cave, it is possible to find solid gold frames, which had been thrust into the night by the restless ghost-weavers. What do these caves and tunnels conceal and for what purpose were they built? This mystery still lingers today in the streets of Santarcangelo… why not go and experience it?
