A town with a wealth of buildings, situated in the middle of the Upper Metauro Valley (62 km from the sea) and edged on three sides by the river which runs beneath its ancient town wall. The early pottery of Casteldurante is well known throughout the world. This majolica ware was produced by skilled craftsmen in the town who, with the patronage of the court of the Della Rovere family, were able to work with famous painters.WHAT TO VISIT: The layout of the town is fairly regular in shape, with long straight streets which are reminiscent of a Roman settlement. It is divided into four quarters and contains buildings dating back over various periods, several of which are of notable architectural interest. Most important of all is the vast Palazzo Ducale (15th – 16th centuries). This originally belonged to the Brancaleone family, first feudal lords of Casteldurante, and was then the residence of the Montefeltros and the Della Roveres. Today it houses the Biblioteca Comunale (Town Library), the town archives, the Museo Civico (Civic Museum) and Museo della Civiltà Contadina (Museum of Rural Crafts). Among the town’s religious buildings is the Chiesa dei Morti, with fine Gothic portal, which contains a macabre ‘Cimitero delle mummie’ (display of mummified corpses). Other churches include the Renaissance church of Corpus Domini, the Baroque church of Santa Caterina, the 18th Century church of San Francesco and the Cathedral (dating from the same period). The adjoining Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop’s Palace) now houses the Diocesan Museum. Also worthy of mention is the 15th Century Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) and bell tower (1561), the 19th Century Teatro ‘D. Bramante’ with its elegant auditorium laid out with tiers of boxes, and the Renaissance building at Barco, a kilometre outside the town, which incorporates the 18thCentury church of San Giovanni Battista.
Adriatic-Route for Thematic Tourism
