CAGLI

“Poiché quivi alla briglia alcun nol prende
Smonta Rinaldo a Cagli alla via dritta.”
(Ariosto, Orlando Furioso)

Cagli is a city rich in art, history, architectural and landscape beauties.
It was an important Roman city, thanks to its strategic position along the Via Flaminia, as highlighted by the presence of the Manlio Bridge, which was built at the intersection of the Bosso and Burano rivers.  
During the Byzantine domination, it was conquered by Pippin the Short and, subsequently, annexed to the territory of the Church, until it became a free municipality, in the XII century.

Later on it was dominated by the power the Montefeltro family, Duke Federico had it fortified by his trusted architect, Francesco di Giorgio Martini. As evidence of this fortification work, remains the imposing Torrione, the symbol of the city, which today houses the Center for Contemporary Sculpture.

With the devolution of the Duchy of Urbino, Cagli had also become part of the territories subject to the State of the Church until the unification of Italy took place.

The emblem of the Risorgimento spirit that involved a large part of the Cagliese citizenship is the Municipal Theater, still today the beating heart of the city's cultural activity. In its many medieval and Renaissance churches, it is possible to admire the works of Gaetano Lapis and Giovanni Santi, Raphael's father.

Cagli is also surrounded by wonderful mountains, the Petrano, the Nero and his majesty the Catria, which together with the smaller peaks, such as the Acuto, represents a paradise of beauty and biodiversity. There are many activities that can be practiced: trekking on foot or on horseback, mountain-bike and down-hill routes, climbing, canyoning, as well as the presence of ski slopes with equipped shelter. The Bosso and Burano rivers are suitable for swimming, offering characteristic scenarios, coolness and summer relaxation…

On the first weekend of June in Cagli host the PIPA FESTIVAL, an international event while on the second weekend of August the city hosts the PALIO DELL'OCA. 

Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Stelle

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Stelle in Monte Martello, built by the Municipality of Cagli in 1495 around the votive cell where, according to tradition, the Virgin first appeared on July 22, 1494, has a Greek cross plan.

The church visible today, in white and pink stone is, substantially, the one built in the fifteenth century with the exception of the small bell tower, once perhaps higher. Not far from this sacred place stood, certainly from the late Middle Ages, the castle of Monte Martello of whose fortified structure today only a few ruins remain.