Castelli del Verdicchio

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Point of interest

One of the oldest festivals of wine or grapes in Italy (from September 23, 1928), has

been held for decades on the first Sunday of the month of October, and the preceding

Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It celebrates not only the grape harvest but also the fertility

of the land, particularly important in this area rich in vineyards planted with Verdicchio vines.

of Dell’Uva derives from a rich and ancient heritage, encompassing traditions, culture,

economy and agriculture of the area, and has become a party for the inhabitants and also

draws thousands of people to Cupramontana for the days of the festival. The characteristic

elements of country folk are evident with a warm welcome: the traditional dances, including

the "Saltarello" (a local dance) performed by local folk groups, songs that were sung in the

fields during harvest time accompanied on various instruments including accordions and

concertinas. Il Palio Del Verdicchio is an annual competition held on the Saturday afternoon

where teams must tread grapes with their feet, just as was done in past centuries. The

teams represent the various production areas surrounding the town. The highlight of the

festival, held on the Sunday afternoon, is the Parade of Floats. Each parish (or quarter) of

the town and the surrounding areas have their own decorated wagon which follows a subject

of wine-making and the traditions of winemaking. Each year the theme varies, as affected by

the current environment, politics, social or historical events – the outcome is creative and

entertaining. The Food Stands, called “capanne” in Cuprense dialect, are designed for the

distribution of food and wine and give an opportunity to taste typical local cuisine. The Sagra

Dell’Uva in Cupramontana successfully combines music, entertainment, wine and food in an

authentic surrounding, and therefore is universally popular.

Municipality

Castelplanio

By virtue of a decree of the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, Castelplanio was granted the title of city on 11 July 2006.
Come here and taste its famous dish: the “Crescia sul Panaro”!
Since the 1950s and 1960s it has been a poor food prepared with a few basic ingredients. It is made of polenta, that is a maize flour cooked in water within a special container, the "callaro", where it was continuously stirred by hand with the aid of a particular ladle, a sort of long wooden cylinder with three or four metal edges on the bottom.
Since those lean years, when people could not afford to waste anything and leave it unused or eat it reluctantly, the left polenta was then reused by mixing it with a bit of wheat flour, kneaded it again (this time by hand) giving shape to the so-called "cresciola." . Then it was put on to the panaro, a metal plate with a long handle, a kind of pan without edges . See if you can find it in our country houses , hanging on the wall or in the fireplace; today it is no longer a working tool, but only an ornament.
Wrapped in a large yellow sheet and holding it in your hands, taste the crescia with vegetables (chard, chicory, wild herbs ...), ham or sausages.
It can be also a sweet crescia when fried and covered with sugar or chocolate cream. It is a delicious dish, not only for children.
Treat yourself to a pleasant “voyage of taste” into the traditional flavors of our cuisine and celebrate with us Castelplanio’s summer festival: “ La crescia sul panaro”. This year (2013) is the 40th edition.
The crescia is now stirred by a far more practical mechanical arm that operates automatically in the container-mixer in ordert to satisfy the hunger of so many visitors from the neighbouring villages and towns of Vallesina and of Ancona and even from other countries.
Castelplanio is one of the last places in the Marche to have put the tradition of the crescia to an excellent level.

The Pro Loco Castelplanio is ready to celebrate the special 40th edition of Crescia sul Panaro Festival with two long weekends (12-14 July and 19 to 21 July). Do not miss it!

Itinerary

Staffolo-Cupramontana-Apiro

Distance: km 35

Time advised: 3 hours

Difficulty: difficult

Starting from the parking in front of the cellar Colonnara and following the signs indicating the historic centre, take the road that leads to Staffolo until you reach the junction called Pian della Casa. Then turn to the right for Apiro. Once arrived in Apiro, head to Piani di Apiro; near the pool, follow the road down the hill that borders the pine forest . Continue until you cross the white road; turn right and shortly after, again on the right side of the church, take the white road downhill through the woods (dangerous descent, be careful!).

After a series of ups and downs through woodland, turn left for the tarmac road that leads to the source of Crevalcuore. Follow the tarmac road for about 2 km, turn left at the junction and go uphill on the white road until you reach Valcarecce. Having passed the hamlet, turn right; continue along the white road over a series of ups and downs and at the junction of the hamlet called Ca de Berti, take the road on the left which soon after reaches the Church of Colognola. At the next intersection with a large metal Crucifix, turn right and follow the main road downhill. From the stream Acqualta take the road to Staffolo and proceed downhill to San Paolo. Near the war memorial of San Paolo, take the tarmac road to the source of Barbanera and turn right onto the dirt road leading to the ditch of Follonica. Having crossed the first bridge, turn right for the second bridge where the steep path climbs up to San Michele.

Having passed the Church of San Michele, take the white road on the left following the sign indicating Contrada Colonnara. After about 600 metres, turn right at the junction and start climbing calmly because there is a difference in height of about 200 metres with a sixteen per cent gradient.

At the end of the climb marked by the “Stop”,follow the signs indicating “Conad” and you easily reach the point of departure.