Frontone

What to know

Nestled at the foot of Monte Catria, the most imposing peak of the Umbrian-Marchigian Apennines, which comes close to 1,700 metres, Frontone is a small town in the province of Pesaro and Urbino perched at around 412 metres above sea level, not far from the border with Umbria and from the lands of Ancona. The stern beauty of its mountains, the pastures and the beech woods that in winter are clothed in snow have earned it the nickname of "little Switzerland of the Marche", a corner of quiet where time seems to flow more slowly. Its profile is dominated by the unmistakable silhouette of the Castello della Porta, a fortification that probably arose towards the end of the 11th century on a hill that watches over the valley. For centuries Frontone lay along the disputed border between the Duchy of Urbino of the Montefeltro family and the possessions of the Malatesta, and it was precisely this strategic position that made its stronghold a bulwark, repeatedly enlarged and reinforced between the 15th and 16th centuries. The village still preserves the intimate atmosphere of mountain towns, made of stone alleys, churches and country memories. At Christmas time Frontone is transformed: the manor becomes the famous "Castle of Father Christmas" and the streets host the scenes of the living nativity "Le Terre del Catria vivono il Presepe", which draw visitors from all over the region. Between spirituality, nature and history, this sliver of the inland Marche invites you to rediscover an authentic Italy, bound to the rhythms of the land and to the silent majesty of the Catria.

What to see

The symbol of Frontone is the Castello della Porta, perched on a hill at a little more than 570 metres above sea level, from which it dominates the whole valley: a fortress with a massive profile, whose walls and towers tell of its past as an outpost disputed between the Montefeltro and the Malatesta. Today its restored halls house a civic collection of contemporary art, exhibitions and temporary displays, and provide a striking setting for civil weddings, conferences and cultural events. At the foot of the manor lies the medieval village, with its paved alleys, stone houses and views that open suddenly onto the mountains. But the true protagonist of the landscape is Monte Catria, which with its roughly 1,700 metres towers over the town: its high-altitude meadows, beech woods and great summit cross make it a destination loved by hikers, cyclists and free-flight enthusiasts, who launch themselves from its slopes with paraglider and hang-glider. In winter the mountain is covered in snow and offers its "little Switzerland" atmosphere. Not far away, set among the woods of the massif, stands the famous Hermitage of Fonte Avellana, a monastery linked to the memory of Dante. Paths, pastures and wide panoramas invite you to explore on foot or by bicycle an unspoilt territory, where nature and history intertwine. Frontone thus reveals itself slowly, among the ancient stone of its castle, the silences of its woods and the broad breath of its mountains.

What to eat

The cuisine of Frontone is the plain, generous fare of the Marchigian mountains, where the flavours are born of the woods and of the old country crafts. The signature dish is crescia, recognised as a De.C.O. product and not to be confused with piadina: a rustic flatbread cooked on the scorching testo and filled with local cured meats, cheeses, field vegetables and wild herbs, which has always accompanied the village's festivals and tables. Alongside it, hand-made first courses reign supreme, such as tagliatelle dressed with a ragù of Catria porcini mushrooms or with a tasty duck ragù, the expression of a tradition that knows no haste. The generosity of the massif's woods is found again in the mushrooms, the chestnuts and the scent of truffle, while the meats tell of rural life with dishes such as coniglio in porchetta, flavoured with wild fennel and aromatic herbs. Cheeses and cured meats of the small local producers are not lacking, nor the honey and the fruits of the undergrowth, to be enjoyed perhaps after a day spent on the paths of the Catria. Every taste is accompanied by the conviviality of the village festivals, which over the course of the year celebrate the crescia and the other treasures of Frontone's gastronomy. At the table, between a glass of wine and the warmth of a hearth, Frontone reveals its most authentic soul: that of a mountain village which has managed to preserve the genuine flavours of times past and the culture of hospitality handed down from generation to generation.