Perticara is located in the municipality of Novafeltria, in the province of Rimini. This village of about 1000 inhabitants is located at the foot of the Aquilone Mount , which marks the border between Le Marche and Emilia Romagna. This village is known for its Europe's largest Sulphur Mine which was then closed in 1964; the Sulphur mining museum is all that still remains. Perticara originally belonged to the province of Pesaro Urbino in Le Marche, together with other municipalities of this area; then it has become a fully-fledged town of the Romagna region.
The Sulphur Mine and its Museum
The small town of Perticara is properly equipped with facilities and services: grocery stores, shops selling traditional hand-crafted products and restaurants - one that I put on top of my list and which I truly recommend is Ristorante Pizzeria Pian del Bosco. Obviously for much considerable shopping, you can always reach the centres of Novafeltria and Sant' Agata Feltria, located only a few kilometres away. The history of this village came from two main elements: the rocky massif that characterises the whole territory of Valmarecchia and the popular Sulphur Mine, a real underground city consisting of more than 100 kilometres of tunnels, seven wells and eight levels communicating with the outside world, which for years has been the main focus of this town. Today you can only visit the Historical Mining Sulphur Museum showing the activities around this industry sector. In 1980, thanks to a local organization it was conceived a land development project, identified as one of the first examples of industrial architecture of its kind in Italy. All buildings of the former sulphurous quarry were restored and many artifacts acquired over the time were placed in their original areas, thus creating a powerful communicative impetus, particularly effective for learning and teaching. In the various rooms you can see a reproduction of all stages on a well layered out path: from the extraction to the sulphur melting and visit of the Mine; a faithful reconstruction of an underground area opened in October 2005. I truly recommend a visit, it's a one-off experience!! A fun fact: the world's biggest sulphur crystal was extracted right here from the Perticara mine and was subsequently donated by the engineer Mezzena to the Natural History Museum of Milan.
Sports activities
The entire area is characterised by a vast vegetation and a geological peculiarity of great importance; of real note is the Natural Park of Sasso Simone and Simoncello. The landscape is very varied and allow you to enjoy any type of activity. For those who love outdoor sports, Perticara and the surrounding area are without doubt the ideal place. For bikers there are many amazing routes to take and for those who love mountain biking there are also many trails organised under a set of difficulty levels. Watch out for routes available on Monte Pincio overlooking Talamello, unmissable! If you like hiking, there you'll find several trails, some of which can also be made on horseback, in fact there are several bridle paths connecting with the local equestrian centres, some also equipped to welcome children and people with disabilities. The bravest can do climbing on the faults of Monte Carpegna overlooking Pennabilli or cross the territory by quad or even walk 10 metres above the ground at the adventure parks in the area, one of the most popular is called Sky Park.
No lack of facilities for most traditional sports: football fields, multi-purpose fields, tennis courts. There are also bike paths for those who just want to relax riding along the streets of the village that offer a unique and impressive view! During winter time, there are also ski resorts available. No chance to get bored here!
Around the village
Perticara is a good starting point for excursions to explore the hinterland of the Romagna region and much more... actually, even the coast is not far from here! First of all Rimini - the most important and famous seaside resort on the Riviera Romagnola known for its night pubs and well-equipped beaches. A few steps from Rimini there's Santarcangelo di Romagna, a town strictly linked to its traditions, characterised by large buildings, small squares and ancient streets with restaurants, inns and workshops typical of the area. Other renowned beach resorts are Cattolica and Riccione. Inland you'll find Poggio Berni, famous for its fortified buildings and Torriana with its two strongholds offering an unforgettable view over the valley. Here you can also visit Montebello Castle. Don't miss a visit to the nearby Sant' Agata Feltria, one of the most characteristic medieval villages of Montefeltro and Novafeltria. In the town of San Leo you could admire its splendid castle still open to the public. Finally, the towns of Verrucchio, Maiolo, Pennabilli, Talamello and Montegridolfo are all worth a quick tour!
Events
Perticara offers a large variety of events and activities, especially considering the proximity to many other towns and cities of the Riviera. Many festivals are related to local products. Starting with the Fiera della polenta e dei frutti del sottobosco (cornmeal mush and forest fruit festival) in September and October; then, Perticara in Fiorentina a festival entirely dedicated to meat which takes place in mid-August. Finally a festival deeply felt by local people is the one called Ferragosto a Perticara (Mid-August in Perticara), a series of celebrations and entertainment for both adults and children organised throughout almost the entire month of August. In September it takes place the Minerals and Fossils Exchange Fair.
Typical products
A symbol that comes to everyone's mind when thinking about Romagna is without doubt the piadina, but actually there are so many other excellent products of the local cuisine. Starting with cheeses, I can name the Fossa cheese, the raviggiolo and the slattato, a fresh cheese exclusively produced in Sant'Agata Feltria. Also the mushroom 'prugnolo' is widely used in cooking and is often served with hand made noodles such as 'tagliatelle' or aromatic soups. Polenta is another popular product accompained with meat sauce or with refined black and white truffles, typical of this area. The spianata is a type of flat bread perfect to taste with cold cuts and cheeses. The chestnut honey with its bitter taste and dark colour is without any doubt one of the most typical products of Valmarecchia. Last but not least, the extra virgin olive oil and wines such as Sangiovese and Trebbiano di Romagna.
