Cagli is a hamlet of rare beauty perched on a headland of Mount Petrano immersed in a verdant landscape.
Its history has very ancient roots as testified by its ancient Roman name: “Cale”. In the past many ancient peoples such as the Umbri, Etruscans and the Senon Gauls settled in Cagli.
In 295 B.C. the village became a Roman domain and with the construction around 219 B.C. of the via Flaminia, which through the Appennines linked Rome to Rimini. The still primitive village of Cagli benefited from the presence of the important thoroughfare and grew larger, acquiring increasingly more power, up to the construction of a post for horses. This was a time of such great improvement for Cagli that it appeared in different Roman itineraries.
After the fall of the Roman empire around the IV century Cagli was invaded by the barbarians, first with the Gothics and then with the Lombards. Administered by its bishop, it was handed down to the Church.
It became a strategic spot because of its position in the Byzantine corridor and therefore was sought after for a long time by the Byzantine and Lombards.
In the communal period, still under the control of the Papal State, the city suffered great damage and was set on fire and destroyed during repeated fights between the Guelph and Ghibelline parties.
In 1289, according to the will of Pope Niccolò IV the village was re-established with the name of S. Angelo Papale on the level land below, where several Churches rose already.
Its reconstruction was possible thanks to the contribution of 57 towns which belonged to the Papal State as still witnessed today by the escutcheons displayed in the Palazzo Pubblico.
At the end of the XIV century, Cagli was handed down to the Signoria of the Montefeltro, becoming one of its linchpins.
As bulwark to the town, architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini erected a fortress on monte dei Cappuccini which connected to the battlement tower by means of a tunnel.
The Montefeltro were succeeded, during the XVI century, by the Della Rovere, who were to rule Cagli until 1631 when it permanently entered the Papal State. In 1860 it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Every year in August, Cagli is the stage of the historical palio of the "Giuoco dell'Oca", (lit. the “Goose’s game”, a life-size board game the equivalent of “snakes and ladders”). According to an ancient tradition dating back to 1543, today this special and ancient game is re-enacted in medieval style. The first Sunday the preliminary ceremonies are set: the town crier’s announcement, the arrival of the palio in the district of the previous year’s winner, the inauguration of the Capitani di Quartiere, the district captains, and the Apodimo, the offer of the Patron Saint’s votive oil. On the second Sunday comes the day of the Palio: after the historical parade through the city’s streets the Giuoco dell'Oca is held on 54 boards, each one of which depicts characters, arts and crafts of Cagli. The winner is the person to first stop on number 54 which portrays the Patron Saint Geronzio, with his symbol, a white goose. During the celebration traditional and delicious taverns are set up to offer the typical tasty dishes of the area.

Monuments