Parco di San Bartolo e borghi antichi

Along its 12 km length, all facing the sea, between Gabicce and Pesaro, it nonetheless preserves unsuspected attractions and curiosities. Starting with a spectacular cliff, a temple of fossils and rare gypsum crystals, that plunges into transparent waters, behind which rises a fan of hills carpeted with woods, patches of vineyards and olive trees, where valuable archaeological sites lurk (after the Sicilian ones of Piazza Armerina, the mosaics of the Roman villa of Colombarone are among those that most excite scholars; not to mention the remains of the two ancient ports of Santa Marina and Vallugola), Renaissance villas and gardens (see box), and well-maintained and signposted hiking trails.
“We are the only green lung in the area and one of the rare promontories of the Adriatic between Trieste and the Gargano,” explains Nadia Regnoli, the president, always at the forefront for the establishment of the Park Authority, which occurred in 1996 – “A territory full of wonders, just a stone’s throw from the golden beaches of Pesaro and Gabicce, where it is pleasant to make a stop to immerse oneself in intact environments or even just to enjoy the evening cool, taking advantage perhaps of one of the many and original summer cultural initiatives.” Starting from Gabicce, provincial road no.44, the “Panoramica,” quickly strings together the necklace of ancient fishing villages: Gabicce Monte, Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola di Focara, Santa Marina. Clusters of stone and brick houses enclosed by massive walls, which watch over the sea from above and at whose feet run thin strips of beach, covered with curious golden pebbles called cogoli. On the clearest days, from the square of Gabicce Monte, a sort of terrace-lounge suspended between sky and sea, the view stretches over the entire Romagna Riviera up to Ravenna. In nearby Casteldimezzo, where a wooden Crucifix from the 1400s is kept in the church, found, according to a legend dear to the inhabitants, on the seashore and inside a large box, an old ridge road allows you to reach the walls of Fiorenzuola di Focara, once the home of flint miners and clam fishermen, where a plaque on the entrance door bears some verses by Dante, who said that “vows and prayers” were needed to save oneself from the windstorms that struck the promontory. These are places where it is nice to stroll without hurry, enjoying the pleasure of small things; to peek into the alleys, spying on the inviting menus of typical inns and the programs of traditional festivals, which faithfully revive parades in medieval costume and forgotten ancient crafts.
The Renaissance Villas
Renaissance villas and gardens are part of the park’s beauties. Among these stand out Villa Imperiale and Villa Caprile, two prestigious and fascinating complexes that reveal how, in the 16th century, living in a villa was a choice of pleasure and noble delight. Villa Imperiale consists of two cores, the Sforza one from the late 1400s and the one commissioned in 1530 by Francesco Maria I Della Rovere, signed by the architect Girolamo Genga. Having passed the entrance portal topped by a daring watchtower, one is captivated by the magic of the internal halls, which open up frescoes by Dosso Dossi, Raffaellino del Colle, Bronzino, Camillo Mantovano, and by the chronicles of the time, which speak of the stay of artists and writers, such as Torquato and Bernardo Tasso, Pietro Bembo, Baldassarre Castiglione. The exteriors are also splendid, animated by Italian-style gardens and a lush park. The complex is private and is visitable on determined days and times. Information: tel. 0721.69341.
 Owned by the Province of Pesaro and Urbino is instead Villa Caprile, today the seat of the Agricultural Institute “A.Cecchi”, which boasts a majestic white shape, terraced gardens (one of which is Italian-style, with curious water games), grottoes, an oratory and an 18th-century outdoor leafy theater for shows. It was built starting from 1640 as a representative residence of the Mosca family and, as a place of delights, hosted characters such as Giacomo Casanova, Stendhal, Duke Ferdinand IV of Parma and Caroline of Brunswick. 
Birds of Prey Observation
Being one of the few reliefs on the Adriatic coast between Trieste and the Gargano, the San Bartolo cliff is a preferred stopover for migratory birds and a precious destination for lovers of nature tourism. Throughout the migration season, some zoologists, collaborators of the Park, reach daily on foot the highest point of the cliff, to observe with powerful binoculars the flight of birds of prey, cranes, white storks and the very rare black storks: for them, there is no greater satisfaction than seeing a pair of peregrine falcons nesting right on the cliff. Since 1998, in collaboration with the University of Urbino, the San Bartolo Park not only hosts this important observation station but also promotes the scientific study of raptor migrations. Indeed, over 3,000 specimens stop here annually, especially kestrels, honey buzzards and marsh hawks, but there are also buzzards, osprey, sparrowhawks, goshawks, harriers, merlins and hobbies.