01Talamello, Novafeltria and Maiolo at a glance
Three small Valmarecchia villages close to each other, easy to see in one day: the 15th-century frescoes and the formaggio di fossa (pit-aged cheese) of Talamello, the memory of the sulphur mine at Perticara in Novafeltria, and the crag of Maiolo with the ruins of its fortress.
From Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini, it's 37.3 km to Talamello, about 55 minutes; Perticara 45.8 km and Maiolo 41.7 km, about 1 hour 10 by car: set off after breakfast and you'll be back by the sea in the evening for our Romagna cooking. For more ideas, see our villages to visit in the hills page.
| Where | Talamello, Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza Garibaldi, 47867 Talamello (RN) |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 37.3 km to Talamello, about 55 minutes; Perticara 45.8 km and Maiolo 41.7 km, about 1 hour 10 |
| When to go | April to November; the Sundays in November for the formaggio di fossa fair |
02History
- Talamello dates back to before the 9th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries it was the seat of the bishops of Montefeltro and a Malatesta stronghold against the Montefeltro.
- In 1437 Bishop Giovanni Seclani had the votive chapel built in Talamello, later frescoed by Antonio Alberti da Ferrara.
- Novafeltria used to be called Mercatino Marecchia, after its fairs and trade, and became a municipality in 1907; it took its present name in 1941.
- At Perticara the Montecatini company was granted the sulphur mine concession in 1917. In 1938 output reached almost 50,000 tonnes of raw sulphur, with more than 1600 workers. The mine closed in 1964.
- The old village of Maiolo, on top of the crag, was almost wiped out by a huge landslide on 29-30 May 1700, after about two days of non-stop rain.
- Until 2009 the three municipalities were part of the Marche (province of Pesaro and Urbino). After the 2006 referendum they moved to the province of Rimini.
03What to see
The Cella affrescata (frescoed chapel) in Talamello. On Via Cava, by the cemetery, there's a small votive chapel painted all over by Antonio Alberti da Ferrara, a rare example of late Gothic. On the end wall are the Annunciation and the Madonna enthroned, the four Evangelists are in the vaults and the Doctors of the Church in the corners.
The centre of Talamello and the Museo Gualtieri. The church of San Lorenzo has a 14th-century crucifix of the school of Giotto, attributed to Giovanni da Rimini. A few steps away, the Museo Pinacoteca Gualtieri, opened in 2002, holds more than forty works given to the village by the Talamello-born painter Fernando Gualtieri.
Formaggio di fossa, the Ambra di Talamello (Amber of Talamello). The village stands on sandstone rock with pits dug into it, where the cheeses are lowered in August and taken out in autumn, after about three months. The poet Tonino Guerra called it Ambra (amber) because of its colour. You can taste it and buy it straight from the producers at the November fair.
Novafeltria and the Teatro Sociale. The Teatro Sociale, on Corso Mazzini, was designed by the engineer Francesco Aurelio Tosi and opened on 3 October 1925 with Puccini's La Bohème; it was restored in 1983 by the architect Giancarlo De Carlo. It has a horseshoe-shaped auditorium with three tiers of galleries and stucco decoration in late Art Nouveau and Art Deco style. In Piazza Vittorio Emanuele you'll find the Romanesque oratory of Santa Marina, which tradition dates to 1191, and the Palazzo dei Conti Segni, now the town hall.
Perticara and the Museo Sulphur. Since 2002 the mining history museum has been housed in the buildings of the former Certino sulphur works: the power station, the compressor room, the lamp room and the workshops, below the great Vittoria shaft that still towers over the village. The museum tells the story of sulphur, minerals and the miners' lives, and includes a reconstructed mine tunnel. Under Perticara the mine stretched for more than 100 kilometres of tunnels on nine levels.
Maiolo, the crag and the bread. On the summit of Monte Rocca di Maiolo stand the bastions of the old fortress, known as Maioletto, with views of San Leo and San Marino. Today's village is lower down, at Serra. Around the area there are about fifty bread ovens from the early 19th century, around ten still in use, which together make up the Museo del Pane (Bread Museum).
Sources: riviera.rimini.it · unioneclubamici.com · bbcc.regione.emilia-romagna.it · museosulphur.it · cultura.gov.it · emiliaromagnaturismo.it · it.wikipedia.org Information checked in October 2026.
04Festivals and food fairs
- L'Ambra di Talamello, Fiera del formaggio di fossa (pit-aged cheese fair), Sundays in November; in 2026: 15 and 22 November: In Piazza Garibaldi you can taste and buy formaggio di fossa from the producers, along with other local specialities. Free entry.
- Ferragosto a Perticara (mid-August festival in Perticara), August; in 2026: 8–16 August: The long-standing festival of the mining village, which reached its 170th edition in 2026.
- Perticara Mineral Expo (late September; in 2026: 27 September): A mineral show at the Museo Sulphur, 36th edition in 2026.
- Sagra della polenta e dei frutti del bosco (polenta and woodland produce festival), from the second Sunday in September to the first Sunday in October: A food festival in Perticara.
Dates change every year, so always check before you set off. Sources: emiliaromagnaturismo.it · museosulphur.it · riviera.rimini.it
05Visitor information
Museo Sulphur in Perticara (Via Montecchio 20, Novafeltria): open Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 5 April to 30 June and from 1 September to 30 November 10am-12.30pm and 3pm-6pm, from 1 July to 31 August 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm. Full ticket €7, reduced €5.50 (children aged 6-14 and groups of 10 or more), schools €5. Groups and schools can visit any day by booking. Information: tel. 0541 927576, info@museosulphur.it. Museo Pinacoteca Gualtieri in Talamello (Via Saffi): from October to December 2026 open on Sundays 10am-12pm and 3pm-6pm, other days for groups on request; tel. 0541 920036 (ticket price not given in the sources). Museo del Pane in Maiolo: open during the Festa del Pane, and for groups by booking on tel. 0541 920012 or with the Pro Loco on 339 7141421. For general information on Talamello: tel. 0541 922893. The opening times of the Cella affrescata are not given in the sources we checked.
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: museosulphur.it · riviera.rimini.it · monasteriemiliaromagna.it · emiliaromagnaturismo.it Information checked in October 2026.
06How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 37.3 km to Talamello, about 55 minutes; Perticara 45.8 km and Maiolo 41.7 km, about 1 hour 10. At reception we'll suggest the best route and where to park, and we can make you a packed lunch if you ask.
Your space back at the hotel stays free in our private car park, which is fenced and has CCTV. You'll find other places to see on the same day below.
07Nearby
All the villages on one page: villages to visit in the hills. For more ideas, see things to do in Rimini.
08What our guests say
What our guests say about their day trips.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Sea and hills
«great view from the balcony, towards the sea on one side and the hinterland on the other»
09FAQ
How much does the Museo Sulphur cost, and when is it open?
A full ticket costs €7, and a reduced ticket €5.50 for children aged 6 to 14 and for groups. The museum opens on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from April to November, 10am-12.30pm and 3pm-6pm (in July and August mornings until 1pm). Groups and schools can book on other days too.
How long should I allow for Talamello, Novafeltria and Maiolo?
The three villages are just a few kilometres apart. With the museum in Perticara, a walk round Talamello and the climb up to Maiolo, it's worth giving them a whole day. If you only have half a day, choose between the Museo Sulphur and the village of Talamello.
When is the formaggio di fossa fair in Talamello?
L'Ambra di Talamello fair is held on Sundays in November, in Piazza Garibaldi. In 2026 the dates are Sunday 15 and Sunday 22 November, with free entry.
Why did Maiolo collapse?
On 29-30 May 1700, after about two days of rain, a huge landslide destroyed almost all of the fortified village on top of the crag. Local people saw it as a punishment from God. Today the bastions of the fortress still stand on the summit, and the village is lower down, at Serra.
Can you go into the real sulphur mine at Perticara?
No. The mine was closed and sealed in 1964 and is not open to visitors today for safety reasons. The Museo Sulphur, in the original buildings of the Certino works, includes a reconstructed tunnel that gives you an idea of what the miners' work was like.
How far is Talamello, Novafeltria and Maiolo from Hotel Viking?
37.3 km to Talamello, about 55 minutes; Perticara 45.8 km and Maiolo 41.7 km, about 1 hour 10 by car from Viserbella di Rimini.
Where should I stay to visit Talamello, Novafeltria and Maiolo?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini is a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year and well placed for day trips.
