A TRIP TO THE UNEXPLORED GEMS OF ITALY
THE ROMAGNA REGION
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My name is Giovanni Labadessa I’m an Italian living in Los Angeles since 2005. I’m a writer, a passionate foodie. Despite being born in the South of Italy the place I choose to talk about is an area in Italy that made me fall in love again with my country: the Romagna region and a city that I love very much: Santarcangelo di Romagna.
The Romagna region is situated by the Adriatic Sea and can be a great place to stop by in your way from Florence and Venice.
This area has both the mountains and sea offering its visitors breathtaking views, in addition to beauty for both the eyes and spirit, with a mixture of the earthy colors, the aromas and the fresh sea air. Not to mention that the Romagna is a hotbed for music, cinema and art appreciated nationally and internationally.
Traditional of the Romagna region are Passatelli, Piadina, Pasta Fresca like Tagliatelle, Cappelletti, Ravioli, Nidi Di Rondine, Strozzapreti.
My favorite of the many great beautiful towns in this region is Santarcangelo di Romagna which is a beautiful italian post card.
This small medieval village is recognised internationally as a City of Art and an extremely popular destination, thanks to the extravagant art and talents of its more celebrated citizens, the warmth of the Romagnolo welcome, the good food and conviviality but also because of the town’s fairs and festivals, which invariably attract thousands of visitors.
The most famous among the many cultural events that happen though out the year is the International Theatre Festival – Festival del Teatro in Piazza.
The festival is a major international exhibition of avant-garde theatre, which has welcomed, amongst others, the famous Mutoid Waste Company, an international group of performers and sculptors of recycled materials, which today live in a small quarter of the town by the river renamed Mutonia. This city passion for the arts has attracted several artists from all over the world making this city one of the most innovative cultural hub in Europe. The city is also home to the international film festival Nót Film Fest , several food fairs and literary events.
The old town of Santarcangelo is worth a visit by itself, all walkable with its narrow streets that climb up on top of the hill called “Monte Giove” where you can enjoy both a beautiful view over the city and the poems written on the corners of the houses.
One of the peculiarity of the old Town are the “Grotte Tufacee”, enchanting caves dug out of tufa: these mysterious caves, whose origin is still unknown, form a labyrinth underneath the towns historic center.
Santarcangelo is also home to several celebrated taste makers, amazing restaurant and Osterie.
Besides Santarcangelo the Romagna Region is rich of gorgeous cities like the city of Federico Fellini Rimini, the historic Republic of San Marino, the medieval castes of San Leo, and Ravenna with its Byzantine mosaics.
Rimini
San Marino
San Leo
Ravenna
Where to EAT in SANTARCANGELO
L’Ottavino Osteria
Via Pio Massani 16 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Pasticceria Succi
Via Felici 38 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Ristorante Ferramenta
Piazza Ganganelli, 19/20 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Ristorante Zaghini
Piazza Gramsci 14 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Rosticceria Graziella
Via Molari 13/15 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Osteria Ristorante La Sangiovesa
Piazza Beato Simone Balacchi, 14 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Trattoria del Passatore
Via Cavour 1 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Where to STAY in SANTARCANGELO
BB Agriturismo Locanda Antiche Macine
Via Provinciale Sogliano, 1540 – SANTARCANGELO
La Foresteria del Convento
Via dei Signori, 2 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Hotel Della Porta
Via Andrea Costa 85 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Hotel Il Villino
Via C.Ruggeri 48 – Santarcangelo di romagna
Residenza i Platani
Via Contrada dei Fabbri 8 (Centro storico) – Santarcangelo di Romagna
B&B Le Contrade
Via Dei Nobili, 38 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Tenuta Zavaia
Via San Vito 434 – Santarcangelo di Romagna
Villa Greta
via Giulio Faini, 9 – Santarcangelo di Romagna