Mercatello sul Metauro

Mercatello sul Metauro
—  Comune  —
Comune di Mercatello sul Metauro
Coat of arms
Mercatello sul Metauro Location of Mercatello sul Metauro in Italy
Coordinates: 43°39′N 12°20′E / 43.65°N 12.333°E / 43.65; 12.333Coordinates: 43°39′N 12°20′E / 43.65°N 12.333°E / 43.65; 12.333
Country	Italy
Region	Marche
Province	Pesaro e Urbino (PU)
Frazioni	Castello della Pieve
Government
- Mayor	Giovanni Pistola
Area
- Total	68.6 km2 (26.5 sq mi)
Elevation	429 m (1,407 ft)
Population (28 February 2009)[1]
- Total	1,494
- Density	21.8/km2 (56.4/sq mi)
Demonym	Mercatellesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	61040
Dialing code	0722
Patron saint	S.ta Veronica
Saint day	9 July
Website	Official website

Mercatello sul Metauro is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 100 km west of Ancona and about 50 km southwest of Pesaro.

Economy is mostly based on agriculture and sheep husbandry.

History

Mercatello is known as a settlement of the Umbri in the 12th century BC. Later it was conquered by the ancient Romans; destroyed during the barbaric invasions, it was rebuilt by the Lombards in the 6th century as Pieve d'Ico. First under Città di Castello and Massa Trabaria (9th century), it was turned into an autonomous fortified communee in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX. In 1437 it was annexed to the Duchy of Urbino; in 1636 it became part of the Papal States.

Mercatello sul Metauro

Main sights

• Pieve Collegiata (with walls from the originary 10th century Romanesque edifice), rebuilt in 1363.
• Gothic church of St. Francis (13th century), wit ha notable collection of paintings from the 12th-17th centuries (including a portrait of Federico III da Montefeltro attributed to Benedetto da Maiano or Francesco di Giorgio Martini).
• Ducal Palace (15th century), also attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Matrini
• Palazzaccio (16th century).

References

1. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.