Mercatello sul Metauro
Mercatello sul Metauro is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about west of Ancona and about southwest of Pesaro.
It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia. Economy is mostly based on agriculture and sheep husbandry.
Birth place of Margaret of Castello.
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, it was turned into an autonomous fortified commune 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.Main sights
Pieve Collegiata, rebuilt in 1363.- Gothic church of St. Francis, with a notable collection of paintings from the 12th to 17th centuries.
- Ducal Palace, also attributed to Francesco di Giorgio MatriniPalazzaccio.