Daniele Cesaro’s viaggio continues (profile Istagramdaniele.cc) to discover the treasures of Val Mivola./p>
On this page you will find la 3" part of the route described in the guide created by Daniele Cesaro(profilo Istagramdaniele.cc), the travel blogger of Venetian origin who travels to the search for the best experiences to try in Italy and in the world in a completely sustainable way.
Daniele Cesaro(profile Istagramdaniele.cc), with his experience and passion for travel, will guide you to the discovery of unique places and unforgettable activities, all with respect for the environment and local communities. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure, immersed in the unspoilt beauty of our country, discovering hidden treasures and authentic traditions.
Day 3
Monasteries, wineries and mills: discovering Barbara and Serra De Conti.
The third day of the tour will lead us to the discovery of ancient historical beauties, between tastings and visits of wineries and mills typical of the villages of the Val Mivola.
Left Ostra Vetere (where in the first part I told you that we stayed in an intimate country resort), moving more and more towards the valley, In just under 5 minutes by car or 15 minutes by bike you will encounter vast fields from the bright yellow of the rapeseed and those of wheat, to cross Barbara, the smallest of the villages of Val Mivola.
The village of Barbara is characterized by a fortified old town with walls and towers and is composed of two distinct sections: the Castle, which is the fortified core of the thirteenth century surrounded by walls and bordered to the south by Porta Roma and to the north by the Arch of Santa Barbara, and the Borgo, which is the medieval settlement that extends from the Arch of Santa Barbara along a slope to the neoclassical church of the Assumption.
The Castle, renovated in the fifteenth century, is still surrounded by a wall with escarpment, equipped with four angular fortifications and culminating in an imposing tower, now known as “‘strong>The Keep“.
With its Castle and the tower called “The Tower”, it was contested between Guelphs and Ghibellines and can also be visited by tourists.
Built in 1787 at the behest of Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Albani and designed by architect Francesco Ciaraffoni, it is a remarkable casket of art that houses works such as a copy of the Nativity of Correggio, a San Sebastiano di Paolo Gismondi, l’Assunzione di Giovanni Pirri, una Madonna e Santi del Pomarancio e il Cristo alla Colonna di Francesco Trevisani.
In the premises of the civic parish museum, located on the lower floor, there is a valuable wooden statue depicting Santa Barbara, dating back to the last decades of the fifteenth century. This work may have been commissioned by Silvestro di Giovanni as a votive offering after the siege of the castle between 1460 and 1461 by the artillery of Sigismondo Malatesta, lord of Rimini.
The Molino di Paolo Mariani, located in Barbara, together with its production chain composed of eleven important farms in the province of Ancona, is one of the most important companies in the sector in the Marche. This mill is not only a center of production, but a true example of innovation and agricultural tradition
The mill of Paolo Mariani directly cultivates 150 hectares of land and is the leader of the chain ‘Manitaly’, a project involving other farms and direct farmers in the province of Ancona.
For those who want to see the art of pizza dough in practice, the Molino di Paolo Mariani organizes practical demonstrations where you can follow the practical lessons on how to knead a pizza and bread and collaborates with “La Casa del Fornaio” to offer practical demonstrations.
In the useful info section you can find more information about the topic and links to the course calendar.
Just outside the walls of the village of Barbara, is a unique barrique, immersed in the history and wine tradition.
This charming place is located inside an ancient monastery, used since its origins for the fermentation of wine. Thanks to the ideal conditions of constant temperature and humidity, a naturally optimal environment has been created for the aging and aging of the wine.
The barrique houses the barrels for aging, among which stand out the classic French barriques of 225 liters and the Tonneau of 450 liters. These casks, made with care and attention, contribute to give the wine unique organoleptic characteristics, enhancing aromas and flavors that only such a special environment can guarantee.
Local pride and flagship of the place is the Santa Barbara Winery, founded in 1964, the reign of its patron Stefano Antonucci, who has been able to win over renowned chefs and wine lovers around the world. The underground spaces, where there are the maze of barrels and the tasting room, were made from a former monastery of the late seventeenth century. For three generations, here everything revolves around Verdicchio, but also Merlot red, Cabernet Sauvignon and Serrano.
A visit to the cellar in the monastery of Barbara is a journey through time and flavors, an opportunity to appreciate the ancient art of winemaking in a place where history and tradition meet.
Whether you are passionate about wine or just curious, this is a place.
In the Info Useful more information about opening hours and days.
From Barbara we move to Serra De Conti, a fortified village a few miles away from Barbara, can be reached in just under 5 minutes by car or 15 minutes by bike.
The visit starts from the workshop of Lorenzo and Giulia, carpenter he tailor and designer she, who with passion develop custom accessories from the unique style have launched themselves into a beautiful project called “GIGETTO 1910″.
Arrived from Gigetto, we were greeted with great availability and kindness. They immediately told us the story of the brand, born thanks to Lorenzo’s father, a skilled carpenter with a shop under the house.
As a child, Lorenzo followed in the footsteps of his Father, learning his art.
This passion combined with the possibility of a new project have led to the creation of a brand that stands out for originality and customization.
Lorenzo and Giulia have the ability to understand the customer in every facet, to satisfy him in all his requests thanks to sophisticated machinery that translate the drawings and images into precise cuts that then become art.
I wrote “art” because thanks to their great creativity they showed us how it is possible to create ad hoc braces, keyrings and bow ties impeccable starting from a simple piece of wood.
A great example for a young couple with a beautiful idea can make their passion a work proudly 100% Italian. Embodying the love of research and collaboration.
In the center of the village of Serra De Conti, there is one of those small “museums – treasure” scattered in the villages of Italy.
Located inside the Town Hall, the Museum houses fascinating exhibits of material culture from the nearby Monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena.
The exhibition begins with a series of objects in which recorded voices give life telling episodes of monastic life.
You can decide to listen or go further. The exhibits were found in the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene which is located right next to the museum. The ceramics, the glass containers for the pharmacy, the embroideries, the kitchen utensils, the lace to the tombolo and the ornamental designs have survived to the time and preserved with care.
You will also find objects for the work and an exhibition dedicated to “The Rooms of Suspended Time” as in addition to the ancient manual skills that animated and supported the monasteries you can immerse yourself in those places for a few seconds.
This fascinating world, seemingly distant and peaceful, punctuated by work and prayer, is spiritually relevant to understanding the cultural life of the country.
The staff is really nice and helpful.
The day continues in the beautiful estate of Cantina Casalfarneto, this is a winery that evolves following the passage of time and the transformations of nature. Originally a small farm dedicated to the production of grapes, it was then transformed into a modern “technological farm”, dedicating itself to the restoration of an old farmhouse, thus starting a new business.
It extends one of the most beautiful hilly areas of the province of Ancona, land of fine wines such as the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. Here, with its 35 hectares of vineyards, is the CasalFarneto winery, where technology, tradition and sustainability come together to produce excellent wines. Unexpected positive note (since we are in the hills) is that here if you have an electric car you can also recharge it thanks to the electric column.
After a walk through the rows, the visit of the winery in the company of the stories of those who work these lands and take care of them, you must taste these delicacies.
In the company of the founder we visited the new store, an exclusive and welcoming shop where you can taste and buy our wines with a breathtaking view and it was wonderful!
Not only was he able to pass on his passion for wine and his commitment to enhancing the territory, but he also managed to make us fall in love with his favourite wines. The Verdicchio Gran casale is a wine that I greatly appreciate because it meets my tastes and makes me want to drink it again without weighing it down. It is difficult not to appreciate others because when you taste it you discover how much commitment and passion is necessary to create these works of art!
E’ stata una degustazione spettacolare, ci siamo rilassati godendo di una vista unica.
gratuito
Typical insights
The secret of the success of this flour lies in the peculiarities of the hills of the Marche. Experts recognize that the best grain grows in the hills facing the sea, at altitudes ranging from below Arcevia to the coast.
The quality of the flour produced by the mill of Paolo Mariani has been recognized nationally. The guide to the pizzerias of Gambero Rosso highlighted the excellence of the pizzerias of Marche and Emilia Romagna, which use exclusively flour from this mill Marche. This has allowed these pizzerias to position themselves at the top of the ranking.
According to Paolo Mariani, Italian cuisine is based on the quality of the raw material, for this reason, the mill constantly invests in the territory, which counters with a generous microclimate.
The mission of Molino Paolo Mariani is to maintain a direct and deep relationship with the world of wheat, enhancing the fundamentals of tradition and agricultural innovation.
The Molino di Paolo Mariani is not only a place of production, but a symbol of excellence, and respect for the territory and its traditions thanks to a conscious and innovative approach, continues to represent a point of reference in the Italian agricultural and gastronomic panorama.
For those who want to see the art of pizza dough in practice, the Molino di Paolo Mariani organizes demonstrations where you can follow the practical lessons on how to knead a pizza and bread.
www.molinopaolomariani.com/il-laboratorio
u>www.molinopaolomariani.com/il-laboratorio/calendario-corsi
Santa Barbara Winery – Stefano atonucci
Opening Hours:*
Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 18:00 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 (morning only)
Cost:
Admission is free but by reservation by phone, offering everyone the opportunity to discover this wine treasure without any expense.
In the countryside of Serra De Conti there is a historic restaurant called “Infinito Country House<</a>”, entirely modeled on the needs of its guests, combines the efficiency of hospitality and the pleasure of good food to the varied offer of services for fun and relaxation.
The house is beautiful, the rooms are simple but modern and functional, also there is a very nice garden, where there is also a corner with games for children and swimming pool.
We dined beautifully in a quiet and serene atmosphere. The food was excellent quality. Fresh fish!
I found professional and at the same time to the hand the people who served us and made us feel at home.
Here they also welcome four-legged friends.