Montebello: History, Church and Hilly Landscape

Montebello lies in a hilly landscape on the right bank of the Metauro at an elevation of 203 metres. The combination of its elevated location and the river landscape defines the geographical setting of the town. The elevated location and the Metauro represent the transition between hill country and river landscape in the townscape.

Palazzo Roveresco and Art History

The Palazzo Roveresco, also known as Palazzo dei Della Rovere, is located in Montebello di Orciano. During a restoration in the 16th century, the rooms of the piano nobile, meaning the second floor, were decorated with stucco work and frescoes. These works are attributed to Federico Brandani or the Zuccari brothers. The painting “Madonna del rosario” by Ercole Ramazzano di Arcevia is dated 1589. For those interested in culture, the frescoes, stucco work and a dated painting are central to the town’s history.

Sant’Anna and the Fortifications

The parish church of Sant'Anna is also located in Montebello di Orciano. It was originally dedicated to John the Baptist; it dates from 1600. The church of Sant'Anna was rebuilt and renovated five times. The years recorded in connection with these works are 1782, 1907 and 1913. These years mark later construction phases of the church.

Montebello still has its defensive walls made of brick-red brickwork. The built-up area of the Montebello district within the municipality of Orciano is also designated as an exception within uniform landscape and ecological systems due to its distinctive features and location. The designation expressly refers to the built-up area of the Montebello district within the municipality of Orciano. Thus, visible historic structures and an independent landscape character come together in the town.

Festa di Sant'Anna

The Festa di Sant'Anna is considered a traditional festival associated with Montebello. The Festa di Sant'Anna was scheduled for 26 July 2026. The Festa di Sant'Anna and the parish church of Sant'Anna bear the same name.

Museums in the Surrounding Area

The museums Fondazione Villa Del Bali' and Museo della Civiltà Contadina, Grotte, Arte Sacra are located in the vicinity of Montebello. Their themes range from a villa to rural, cave-related and sacred culture. The two museums focus on different cultural areas.

The museums Bastione Sant'Anna and Museo Nori de' Nobili are located in the wider regional area around Montebello. The beaches Spiaggia di Metauro and Boiani are also located there. The wider regional area around Montebello thus extends from museums to beaches, while the mountains in the surrounding area provide an additional landscape connection.

Mountains and Spatial Orientation

The mountains Monte Raggio and Monte San Bartolo are located near Montebello. The access road from Orciano descends to the Metauro and then continues towards Fossombrone. The two mountains provide a scenic counterpoint to the river landscape of the Metauro. This spatial relationship places Montebello between the hilly landscape, the river landscape and the destinations of the wider regional area.

Further destinations: Santa Veneranda, Frontino, San Michele, Cagli, Fenile, San Costanzo, Calmazzo, Lucrezia.

To the main travel overview: Pesaro - Urbino.