Acqualagna , the truffle capital From the right: National Truffle Fair The highly attended National Truffle Trade Fair. The small city of Acqualagna (pop. 4,000), located just a few A splendid white truffle specimen. The old Truffle Market. kilometres from the magnificent Furlo River Gorge, is known for its A view of Pietralata. centuries-old tradition of truffle gathering, production and marketing. Truffle collectors and merchants who operate on all of the world markets have their offices here or conduct the larger part of their business from Acqualagna. The Acqualagna truffle market has become the preferred venue for the wholesale of truffles: 2/3 of the entire national production (5/600 quintals of all types of truffles) are traded here. The countries which especially prize the product include Germany (the largest European consumer), Belgium, Holland, France (which produces large quantities of black truffles in the South), USA and Canada.

The three 2 Acqualagna fairs 3

“Truffles all year round” in Acqualagna is not just a saying, but a true professional business and a real chance for the public to sample this product. Three important fairs are held in this small city in the region in correspondence to the harvest periods of the different product varieties.

New production • The National scenarios White Truffle Fair October and November In 1933, through the work of Dr. Francesco Francolini, a new agronomic discipline was born, • The Regional Superior “truffle growing”. Black Truffle Fair Truffles are cultivated through the second to last Sunday the mychorhization of the seeds of February of several carefully selected and treated plants. After the seeds • The Regional Summer Black have been contaminated with Truffle Fair the desired truffle spores, August 14-15 A view of Corso Roma, they are planted in “phytocells” Acqualagna historical centre. containing soil suitable for the During the three fairs, 2/3 species. The seedlings of the entire domestic product is are grown in greenhouses, then traded (approximately 500-600 they are transplanted to the quintals of all types of truffles). artificial truffle ground out in the open. The artificial truffle grounds (Furlo, Paganuccio, Pietralata, Montiego) yield a good production of prized black truffles: in fact, more than 50% of this variety of domestic product comes from these grounds. Acqualagna and its environs

Those who visit Acqualagna to experience the sweetness and the Hiking on a Pietralata foot path. flavour of the truffle, find themselves surrounded by the stupendous View of the Gola Holm-oak on scenario of the Furlo Reserve, the territory of the “ Comunità Montana Mt. Paganuccio, the summit of the Furlo. The Mt. Paganuccio. del Catria e Nerone” (Consortium of the municipalities of Mounts Catria The Gola del Furlo seen from the riverbed. and Nerone), the renaissance city of and the Adriatic sea, which Panoramic view of the Furlo. is only a few kilometres from the city. The beauty of the surrounding Canoe and swimmers on the Candigliano areas and the aroma of truffles make Acqualagna a truly special place. River flood bed.

4 5 Historical Farm, and the underlying itineraries construction dating to the II century B.C. are conserved in the “Pitinum Mergens Acqualagna is rich in history. Antiquarium” which offers the Take a day to discover and visit visitor a detailed look at the the St. Vincent Abbey, also functions and daily life of a called “Pietrapertusa”, built in the roman farm through the IX century by the Benedictine everyday objects and Monks and renovated by Abbot agricultural tools on display. Bonaventura in 1271. Also worth The “Antiquarium” also visiting are the monumental conserves rich documentation ruins of the old Flaminian Road on the extinct city of Pitinum built in the III century B.C. by Mergens, on the construction the Roman consul Caius of the farm and on how they Flaminius, and the Tunnel were discovered. opened through the rock in 76 Archaeological finds can also D.C. by the Roman emperor be seen in the village of Furlo, Vespasianus. The Fortress on the where ancient vestiges Candigliano, a long viaduct are found in every corner. 6 dating back to the age of 7 Augustus, also merits a visit.

the discovery of numerous finds at Colombara, dating back to a rural villa from the Republican era and the first cen - turies of the Roman Empire (II century BC) The archaeological finds include: The Archaeological a pendant, several oil-lamps and fibulas. On the page to the left: On this page, other photographs of the Patrimony St. Vincent's Abbey, IX century AD museum: two mixing jars (kitchen of Acqualagna and interior of the Romanesque apse. ceramics). Various refectory objects "Black Fortress on the Candigliano River, glaze ceramics". Augustan viaduct A museum wall case containing finds from If we retrace the history of The Furlo Tunnel, 76 AD. the III-VII centuries BC prior to the con - Acqualagna through time, Interior of the "Antiquarium Pitinum struction of the Villa. we discover that the city’s Mergens", the archaeological museum Acqualagna Stone cutter absorbed roots go back to an ancient of Acqualagna, founded in 2002 following in his work past which has left important vestiges, especially in the Acqualagna vicinity of one of the main roadways that connected Rome and stonecutting to the Adriatic: the Flaminina Road. The ancient road, constructed in the III century Artistic stonecutting, a centuries-old tradition which traces its roots B.C. by the consul Caius to the ancient Furlo stonemasons, has a particular significance Flaminius, crosses over among the activities which have made Acqualagna famous in the 5 kilometres of what is today’s world. According to several studies carried out by historians and Acqualagna, where one of its academicians, thanks to their skill and to the easy availability side lanes was the site of the of the material from the area “quarries”, the stonemasons of Furlo Roman Municipality of Pitinum were called upon for the realisation of important works Mergens. Between 1995 and and architectural structures in Urbino. Since then, artistic skill has 1997 several excavations, been combined with the most modern and sophisticated machining conducted by the University of techniques which favour the realisation of articles recognised Urbino in collaboration with and appreciated not only in , but also in northern Europe, the the Marche Region United States and Japan. Superintendency of In response to this interest, the City of Acqualagna, in collaboration Archaeology, brought to light with the Cna (National Crafts Confederation), has created the findings of a Roman farm an exhibition area dedicated to a small museum where splendid (rural villa), built in the examples of fireplaces, stonework and masonry kitchens, as well as Republican age and inhabited, all of the other stone industry products for the furnishing and with alternating fortunes, building industries are on display as a testimony to this evergreen up to the late Imperial age. trade. The museum, created by the “Collettivo pietra” project, can The ruins of the Imperial Age be visited during the Truffle Fairs in Acqualagna. The Furlo Gorge State Nature Reserve

8 The Furlo reserve encompasses 9 3,600 hectares of woods, grasslands and uncontaminated mountain peaks and it is the third largest protected area in the -Urbino Province. Held to be an authentic paradise by all, it is crossed by the Candigliano river which winds its way through the massive rock walls of the Gorge where the beauty of the landscape comes together with prodigious naturalistic riches which boast truly unique examples of flora and fauna like the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon, the wallcreeper which cohabit with wolves, roe-deer, fallow deer and wild boar. The vegetation which cover the peaks of the massif is mainly made up of oak-woods with downy oak, hop hornbeam, flowering ash, sycamore and whitebeam. The riverine habitat is also variegated and the forest, the grasslands and brush are teeming with wildlife.

Trees Oak, one of the many plants found in the Furlo Reserve. The golden eagle, a species which The Wolf, which has returned to populate has nested on the face of Mt. Paganuccio the Reserve. for many years. An Ammonite fossel, easily traceable Panoramic view of the Furlo. in the rocks of the Furlo. Two hedgehogs. Acqualagna Tagliatelle (ribbon noodles) with Truffles: where to buy them Truffles Serves 4 400 gr. Tagliatelle 100 gr. butter 50 gr. white truffle Le Trifole T&C snc meat broth - grated parmesan via Pole, 26/A cheese salt to taste Di Davide Curzietti via Alcide De Gasperi, 88 61041 Acqualagna (PU) 61041 Acqualagna (PU) tel. 0721.799065 tel. 0721.798581 Melt the butter until it sizzles, add a few spoonfuls of broth, salt to taste. Add the truffle, remove from heat and add the parmesan. Cook the noodles in plenty of salted water, drain them and transfer to the serving platter. Season with the truffle cream and garnish with white truffle shavings. Marini Tartufi Truffa Tartufi Di Marini - Azzolini Di Truffa Maria Gabriella via Risorgimento, 26 via Alcide De Gasperi, 55 A tradition 61041 Acqualagna (PU) 61041 Acqualagna (PU) tel. 0721.798634 of gourmet Truffles: where to taste them tel. 0721.798245 10 excellence 11

The development of truffle Albergo Ristorante Albergo Ristorante Antico Furlo Tartufi Tofani Acqualagna Tartufi growing, the old sylvan-pastoral Birra al Pozzo Passo del Furlo Acqualagna PU P.zza E. Mattei, 9 bis 9 ter via Pianacce, 12 Acqualagna PU via Flaminia, 66 via Bellaria, 37 traditions (pig farming, 61041 Acqualagna (PU) tel. 0721.700084 tel. 0721.700096 61041 Acqualagna (PU) salt-cured meats, mushroom tel. 0721.799310 tel. 0721.798918 picking, etc.), the advantageous Albergo Ristorante Albergo Ristorante La Ginestra cross-roads position and last, but La Capanna Passo del Furlo Acqualagna PU via Canfiagio Acqualagna PU tel. 0721.797033 not least, its proximity tel. 0721.708152 to the sea, make this territory Ristorante Osteria del Parco a most interesting frontier Agriturismo Frescina via Mochi, 11/13 Truffle calendar Only in Acqualagna: of exchange. Loc. Frescina Abbadia di Naro Acqualagna PU tel. 0721.797353 fresh truffle all year round 61043 PU Gastronomy and winemaking tel. 0721.708001 Agriturismo Castellago are the heirs to this fortunate [email protected] Strada. Castellaro, 19 medley: take, for example, Acqualagna PU tel. 0721.799090 the combination of the the Ristorante Gipsy via delle Case Nuove, 10 Ristorante Pizzeria “Tagliatella”, typical of Acqualagna PU Hosteria del Castello Romagna, and the Acqualagna tel. 0721.700035 str. Farneta, 25 Acqualagna PU White Truffle. cell. 346.6273366 A tradition of excellence already Ristorante Lampino via Risorgimento, 30 Ristorante Pizzeria 2000 known during the papacy Acqualagna PU via Flaminia Nord, 168 Cagli PU of Pio II. tel. 0721.798674 tel. 0721.797139 Today, Acqualagna boasts White truffle Superior Black Truffle Bianchetto or Black summer truf - a number of top-notch Albergo Ristorante Leon d’Oro Agriturismo La Fattoria via Flaminia, 213 Acqualagna PU strada Farneta, 35 Acqualagna PU Tuber Magnatum Pico Tuber Melanosporum Vitt. "Marzuolo" truffle fle or "Scorzone" restaurants. tel. 0721.798164 tel. 0721.797085 Tuber Borchii Vitt. or Tuber Aestivum Vitt. From October 1 st to From December Tuber Albidum Pico Agriturismo del Frontino Agriturismo Biologico December 31 st st th st Strada Frontino, 23 Acqualagna Pieve del Colle 1 to March 15 From May 1 to st PU cell. 338.7171859 Via Pieve del Colle, 1- 61049 From January December 31 PU tel. 0722.317945 15th to April 30th Ristorante Il Vicolo cell 347.91448209 Corso Roma, 39 Acqualagna PU tel. 0721.797145 Ristorante Pizzeria Albergo Shine via Aldo Gamba, 56 Trattoria Da Volgardo Acqualagna PU October November December via Candigliano Acqualagna PU tel. 0721.797485 - 797487 tel. 0721.798123 Ristorante Pizzeria January February March Ristorante Palazzina Sabatelli La Tana del Lupo S. Ippolito, PU S.S. - via Flaminia s.n. Acqualagna PU April May June Grosseto, uscita Serrungarina tel. 0721.797247 tel. 0721.749185 [email protected] July August September A free invitation to join a very exclusive Club

This club is dedicated to true To join the “Club Amici di Acqualagna capitale del Tartufo” (Friends Aqualagna Truffle lovers and of Acqualagna, the Truffle Capital). offers many exclusive Fill out the form with your personal data and send it in a closed privileges. With your free envelope to the following address: Club Amici di Acqualagna Capitale membership, you will be sent del Tartufo P.zza E. Mattei, 9 61041 Acqualagna (PU). the practical “Truffle Cookbook”: You can also send the form by fax +39 (0)721.799044 a collection of recipes taken or by e-mail: [email protected] from our best gastronomic Law 675, 31.12.1996 PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA. tradition. You will also receive We may use the information you furnish on this request for Club a personalised, numbered membership to send you commercial, tourist, cultural offers membership card which is good and opinion surveys. You may consult, modify or cancel your for discounts at restaurants in personal data at any time, or you may request that it not be used for Acqualagna, price reductions the above mentioned purposes by writing to us at: when purchasing directly from the producers of truffles and Comune di Acqualagna - Club Amici di Acqualagna P.zza Mattei 9 12 truffle products, updates on the 61041 Acqualagna (PU) truffle market and price quotations, advantageous offers, Name Surname both gastronomic and non, as well as many other surprises. Address

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How to get to Graphics Omnia comunicazione Acqualagna Photography • Highway A14 Luca Manieri Adriano Gamberini P. Delle Veneri • Fano exit Texts traslated by • Fano-Grosseto freeway Donna Lynne Galletta for Rome Typography Arti Grafiche Stibu