Discover Saltara: History, Art and Culture

Saltara combines medieval traces, art and lively events with a landscape on the edge of the Metauro Valley. This gives you a place where history becomes tangible through markets, churches, mosaics and distinctive buildings. At the same time, the route via the SP26 and access to the historic center help you plan your stay realistically.

Historical traces in Saltara

Saltara’s covered markets were established in 1449 under a concession granted by Novello Malatesta for the weekly market. With its imposing surrounding walls, the castle still preserves its original medieval appearance. Saltara Castle rises on a hill that borders part of the valley of the Metauro River. Fragments of a Malatesta coat of arms are embedded in the façade of the tower, including a shield decorated with checkerboard bands and a winged dragon.

Smaller cultural sites also complement this historical picture. The Santuario della Madonna della Villa in Saltara dates from 1790, while the Chiesa della Fonte preserves two frescoes by Giovanni Antonio di Bellinzoni da Pesaro. Saltara is also home to an antique pipe organ that was returned to its original location after restoration work. The Parco Memoriale Nello Iacchini is dedicated to the partisan Nello Iacchini (1919–1977), who was from Saltara.

Mosaics, churches and art

The Sala MOS is a multimedia exhibition in the sacristy of the Chiesa del Gonfalone and explains the history of the mosaics. Its permanent exhibition displays mosaics with hunting and animal scenes that were brought back to Saltara following a new enhancement project. Based on thematic and stylistic similarities, the Saltara mosaic is dated to the 2nd to 3rd century AD and probably decorated the triclinium, that is, the dining room, of a rural villa.

In Rovereto, the present-day San Francesco church was built in 1434 in the Late Gothic style. The Convento e Chiesa di San Francesco dates approximately from 1215 and is one of the earliest Franciscan convents in the Marche region. The apse of San Francesco contains a cycle of frescoes attributed to Giovanni Antonio di Bellinzoni da Pesaro. These places give your trip additional points of connection with art and architectural history, without requiring you to focus on a single theme.

Events and special experiences

The Processione del Cristo Morto has medieval origins and still takes place in Saltara every Good Friday. Saltarua shows another side of the town: this music event takes place in the streets and squares of Saltara in July. Beneath the covered markets, the Galleria degli Artisti presents contemporary art installations, video art and paintings by young local artists.

For an outing with children or for anyone who wants to experience science in an engaging way, the Museo del Balì offers a planetarium with 46 seats. It is dedicated to the astrophysicist Giuseppe Occhialini and reproduces the starry sky beneath an eight-meter dome. Olive oil is considered an outstanding regional product in Saltara; it carries DOP recognition.

Getting around

The Giro dei Borghi route reaches Saltara from Calcinelli via the SP26. Saltara’s historic center can be reached via a staircase with more than one hundred steps. This specific access situation is important for your planning if you want to explore the center on foot. When choosing a hotel, you can incorporate the cultural sites, events and local topography described above into your personal travel planning.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to combine Saltara with other destinations in Italy, here are further places for you to choose from: Sassofeltrio, Urbino, Villagrande, Piobbico, Fratte Rosa, Montefelcino, Fiorenzuola Di Focara and Candelara.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pesaro - Urbino.