Mercatino Conca between Riverbanks, Trails and Markets

Mercatino Conca lies on the left bank of the Conca River. The town combines this riverside setting with a pre-Apennine landscape, trails through nature, a long market history and regular events in the local annual calendar. If you would like to explore an Italian small town with a range of interests, this combination offers several clear starting points for planning your trip.

Riverbanks and pre-Apennine landscape

The area features a pre-Apennine landscape with deeply incised valleys and extensive badland-type erosion formations. This combination shapes the character of the landscape and draws attention both to geological formations and to paths through the surrounding countryside. This is especially interesting for you if landscape and outdoor activity are a focus of your stay.

Trails into nature

The “Cammino di Mercatino” is an approximately 10-kilometre walking trail through nature. It starts in Mercatino and returns there. It is marked on stones and on the backs of road signs: a bull symbol and directional arrows indicate the route. The approximate length of 10 kilometres and the return to Mercatino provide two specific reference points for planning a day on this trail.

In addition, an approximately 30-kilometre trail runs from Osteria Nuova to Onferno and passes through the Piandicastello district by the Church of San Salvatore. Its approximate distance is therefore considerably greater than that of the Cammino di Mercatino.

Market history and art

Mercatino Conca was officially established on 24 January 1508. On that day, Guidobaldo I da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, granted the community of Monte Grimano permission to hold weekly Friday markets in the emerging settlement, which was then called “Genga del Mercato”.

The sculpture “Nascita Vita Morte”, also known as “Il Toro”, stands in Piazza del Campo Fiera. It is made of raw iron, stands on a round brick base and was inaugurated in 2013. “L’uomo e il fiume” was inaugurated in 2019.

Annual festivals

In the Piandicastello district of Mercatino Conca, the Festa della Madonna dell’Acqua takes place every year on 25 April. In the afternoon, a procession carrying the statue of the Madonna travels from the Church of San Salvatore to the centre of Piandicastello. The Fiera e festa di Sant’Ubaldo takes place on the second weekend of May. On the second Sunday, market stalls line Via Roma and Via Matteotti from morning until evening; flowers and vegetable plants are offered in Piazza Verdi.

Tourist information

The Mercatino Conca tourist information point provides information about events, places of interest, history, art, culture and general tourism topics, as well as accommodation and restaurants. The IAT in Urbino is the tourist information and contact point for Mercatino Conca.

Other destinations

Other destinations: Pesaro, Monteciccardo, Petriano, Montecalvo In Foglia, Torrette, Colbordolo, Sorbolongo, Marotta

For the broader travel overview: Pesaro - Urbino.