Ostra, Barbara, Serra de' Conti and Arcevia: villages between the past and the hills

In the hinterland of Ancona, there are several municipalities in the Mivola Valley united in a valorisation project that focuses on widespread hospitality and experiential tourism made up of events, tastings and guided tours. The itinerary of discovery of this territory can start from Ostra, a fortified town about fifteen kilometres from Senigallia characterised by a medieval wall punctuated by nine towers, which opens its historic centre to visitors around Piazza dei Martiri, the heart of town life and the fulcrum of events dedicated to the local food and wine and cultural traditions. Nearby Ostra Vetere, on the other hand, is distinguished by its terraced urban layout, linked by alleys and stairways that create an evocative view of the valley and the presence of archaeological sites. Continuing towards Barbara, one is welcomed into a village that preserves the typical layout of a medieval castle, with access gates and an urban fabric that develops along the slope of the hill, while arriving at Serra de' Conti the sensation is immediately that of a leap into the past, which is realised in a visit to the museum "Le Stanze del Tempo Sospeso" (The Rooms of Suspended Time) to learn the secrets of monastic life through an immersive itinerary. Arcevia, finally, is the icon of a widespread system of castles that form an imaginary network of small centres to explore lying on the surrounding hills, among which stands out Castiglioni, with its walls and fortified gates that can still be read.