The villages surrounding the Marche city also enjoy a new and more intense light, reflecting their intrinsic beauty. Among them, Sant’Ippolito stands out, a town with a long tradition in the art of carving stone. The proximity to marble and sandstone quarries has allowed local stonemasons to excel in designing niches, religious figures, sculptures, and detailed decorations found throughout the Marche region. The history of this artisanal epic, refined over time, is widely described in the local Museum of the Territory-Art of the Stonemasons housed inside Palazzo Bracci.
Here, visitors can learn about the tools used for quarrying and sculpting, as well as the various techniques employed in working with sandstone. The museum also exhibits a selection of works created in the various professional courses organized on-site, followed by an open-air discovery itinerary showcasing numerous sandstone works dating back to the 16th century, adorning the facades and exteriors of buildings throughout the municipal territory. Fossombrone, originally founded by the inhabitants of Forum Sempronii, showcases its ancient and glorious history through its medieval walls, castle, and Clock Tower. The topography of the surrounding territory was heavily influenced by the Metauro River, which irrigates the countryside dotted with ancient rural residences.
Notable among these is Palazzina Sabatelli, an elegant architectural example in the form of a tower house with a dovecote, erected in the 17th century, featuring a graceful loggia, portico, a small church, and decorated interiors. Sorbolongo also boasts an imposing clock tower with a wrought iron dome, houses built of sandstone, and walls serving as a vantage point from the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea. Located 25 kilometers directly from Pesaro, it has a population of 16,500 inhabitants and is situated on a hill overlooking the Metauro Valley. The region is known for its sandstone quarries, which have provided employment opportunities for the locals.
Every July, the village hosts an international artistic event dedicated to sandstone sculpture, known as “Scolpire in Piazza”.