Colli al Metauro is a municipality in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, established in 2017 through the merger of the historic communities of Montemaggiore al Metauro, Saltara and Serrungarina. It is a diverse and wide-ranging area where historic villages, rolling hills, culture and traditions are deeply connected to the Metauro Valley.
Saltara still retains the atmosphere of a medieval village enclosed within the ancient castle walls. Just outside the historic centre stands the Sanctuary of Madonna della Villa, an elegant religious building housing a valuable historic organ that has recently been restored. The surrounding area is also home to the monumental Church of San Francesco in Rovereto and its former convent, now used for cultural events and moments of reflection and spirituality, as well as the Church of the Gonfalone, a refined example of late Baroque art featuring ornate stucco decorations and a large 16th-century painting attributed to the school of Perugino.
The area around Saltara also preserves traces of its Roman past. Mosaic fragments discovered during the 20th century near Calcinelli are now displayed within the former Church of the Gonfalone. Nearby stands the striking Villa del Balì, a historic noble residence set among the hills and now home to the Museo del Balì, an important interactive science museum with a planetarium, astronomical observatory and educational spaces dedicated to scientific discovery.
Serrungarina rises on the crest of a panoramic hilltop and preserves the charm of a small medieval castle village. At the heart of the settlement, reached by a characteristic staircase, stands the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate. The surrounding countryside is dotted with the ancient castles of Bargni and Pozzuolo, nestled within the rural landscape of the valley. Among the area’s traditional specialities is the pera angelica, a historic pear variety closely tied to the agricultural identity of the region.
Montemaggiore al Metauro overlooks the Metauro Valley from its elevated position, dominated by its ancient fortified centre. Medieval in origin, the village played a strategic role for centuries in controlling the surrounding territory and later became significant during the Second World War along the Gothic Line. Today, the former Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso houses the Metauro River Historical Museum “Winston Churchill”, which preserves documents, artefacts and testimonies linked to the events of 1944, also commemorating Winston Churchill’s visit to the area during the Allied military campaign.
Among the most cherished events in Colli al Metauro is the Christmas market “Seguendo la Cometa”, a festive celebration that each year fills the villages with markets, events and a warm Christmas atmosphere.
