Up the slopes of Sassocorvaro Auditore hills, one gets to Piagnano, an ancient fortified borough, homeland to the famous Oliva counts, whose story is graved in stone. We can discover this story, retracing it backwords after entering in town. Three rounds of city walls are like rings in a tree trunk and show its age. From Porta Grande (the Large Door), the main entrance to Piagnano, we go up under the pointed arch of the earlier eastern door. We finally get to the ancient heart of the borough, were St. Salvatore’s raises on the main little square, flanked by the tall bell-tower.
On the highest spot, stones and remains of walls give a pale idea of the imposing XIII century fortress around which Piagnano grew. Nowadays, this hamlet cast in the middle of the round hills of Montefeltro is an invitation to quiet and tranquillity. The same landscape is shared by the nearby Villaggio Ranco (Ranco Village), which made itself the guardian of that environment. Villaggio Ranco is a Naturalist Association dedicated to preserving, studying the environment and diffusing the knowledge of it.
It is a place that appears to be far from the present times and having escaped its frenzy. Everything moves more slowly, in synchrony with nature. Organised trips, projects of Environmental Education, courses of Energetic Breathing, Bed & Breakfast services are just a few of the activities centred on nature and ecology proposed by Andrea and Catia, the creators of this place. Whoever comes to Villaggio Ranco finds a beautiful and rich with biodiversity environment. Tracks to be travelled on foot, biking or on horseback twist inside an untouched nature, dominated by the healthy Mediterranean weather exalted by the great oak wood. The sound of a little waterfall
caresses one’s ears. Peregrine falcons draw spirals in the air. In springtime, the smell of broom trees teases the nostrils. At dawn pink shades paint the walls of ravines. Forgotten impressions are revived, slow the breath down and transmit a feeling of peace and harmony.
Pignano