Itinerary among the DOC, IGP and Slow Food presidia flavours of the Rimini Riviera
"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not eaten well".
(Virginia Woolf)
Romagna is a generous land and our hospitality is passed on through the typical flavours of the area, which over time have become DOC, IGP or Slow Food Presidia.
This itinerary in the Conca Valley covers an area of about 50 kilometres and along the way we will discover and taste typical products and extraordinary specialities.
Bon voyage and enjoy your meal!
A few kilometres from the golden beaches of the Rimini Riviera, in the heart of the green hills of the Conca Valley, lies the hamlet of the Malatesta Seignory, also known as the "Granary of the Malatesta". We are in San Giovanni in Marignano, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, rich in history, art and culture... and the land of good food.
And right here - about 1 km from the Cattolica-San Giovanni in Marignano motorway exit - you can visit the 'Piadina Experience', the first museum in the world dedicated to the symbol of Romagna: the piada.
In the museum dedicated to the piada, now a PGI product, the journey begins in the Neolithic Age, passes through the kitchens of the grandmothers of Romagna and ends in the present day, where past and tradition meet the future and technology.
Dip your hands into the grain, 'glide' over Romagna and look at it with Fellini's dreamy eyes, be enchanted by the alchemy that transforms the ingredients into piadina, watch the piadina being made from a panoramic tunnel... here it is possible!
And there will be no shortage of stuffed piadina!
From San Giovanni in Marignano, we move on to San Clemente, a village from the Malatesta era where its origins are still clearly visible. The walls of San Clemente still enclose the heart of the historic centre, while a few kilometres from the town,
in 1388, Leale Malatesta left an imposing reminder of his dominion over the territory: the farm and fortified villa of Castelleale, a characteristic example of medieval architecture.
The structure and its architecture bear witness to the village's past and the history that has intertwined it with its territory, between conquests, wars and liberations.
But San Clemente is also known as the land of wine and it is no coincidence that the municipality is included in the National Association of Wine Cities.
This is the land of Sangiovese and the Sagra del Vino (wine festival) that takes place here every year towards the end of May and where local production can be appreciated.
Not to be forgotten is Rebola, a wine made from the grapes of the 'Grechetto gentile' vine, which has been widespread in the area for centuries. This vine is not very productive, yet it yields a unique grape capable of producing a fruity, velvety wine that is truly versatile in pairings, capable of tuning into the intimacy of an aperitif as well as accompanying a fish dinner in front of the Riviera's panorama of lights.
The final leg of our journey takes us to Montescudo - Monte Colombo, through a countryside of vineyards and olive groves, characterised by a relaxing landscape that gently descends into the valley.
These two localities, united into a single municipality since 2016, formed a solid barrier protecting the Rimini plain and here too there is evidence of the Malatesta seignory.
Among the many products that the area has to offer, the potato is the most famous and is included in the list of traditional foods of Emilia Romagna, thanks to the particular characteristics of the soil.
They are more consistent and tasty and lend themselves beautifully to the preparation of gnocchi. Potatoes can be bought all year round in the many shops in the area, but they are usually celebrated on the second Sunday in August with the Potato and Gnocchi Festival, where you can taste famous gnocchi-based dishes, cod with potatoes, potato and bean soup, doughnuts and special recipes such as potato ice-cream.
There would still be much more to say and to taste, but for now our journey ends here, with a sunset painted against the backdrop of a landscape reaching towards the sea and with the unforgettable flavour of every corner discovered and tasted.
