This village spreads out in a fan-like shape on the slopes of a hill looking over the Metauro valley, in a rather isolated position compared to the other villages. It is surrounded by olive groves, farmed fields and black poplar, white willow, oak and elm woods.
Today Cartoceto still possesses strong medieval features. The village centre is characterised by terraces and tiny steep streets lined by houses on different levels, overlooking passages and the valley below. Amid the alleys are numerous and outstanding aristocratic palaces and the remarkable bell tower dwarfing the elegant square seems to complete this magic scenery of ancient times.
In the past the toponym in use to identify this place was "Carticeto". Its meaning is thought to be connected to the hypothesis that its foundation can be imputed to the Chartagenians on the run after loosing the Metauro battle in 207 B.C.
According to an epigraph dating back to 79 B.C. retrieved near the old parish church, these lands had been inhabited before the Roman conquest.
Due to its strategic position, the hamlet mainly covered defensive and lookout functions. Defensive walls were built around Cartoceto since the XII century, an event that listed the village among the 15 most important castles of those located to the North of the river Metauro in the Malatestian territory.
To allow the castle to continue to carry out its defensive role, it was equipped, in 1351, with a mighty fortress which was to resist enemy attacks but not the powerful earthquake that hit the area in 1572.
The town and the neighbouring castles were involved in the complex incidents which entwined the Papacy, the Montefeltro and the Malatesta who were pursuing the definition of political and economical organisation. Cartoceto submitted to Carlo Malatesta, but after only six months was subjected to the rule of the nearby town of Fano.
This led to the rebellion of the village, which on more than one occasion rebelled against Fano, ousting its town leader and requesting to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Pope and the Duke of Urbino.
Yet, this failed to lead to a complete liberation of the town, which remained, through varied fortunes, under the power of the town of Fano until the XVIII century. The eventual arrival of French troops and its accession to the Kingdom of Italy, and, moreover, the consistent tax imposition, requisitions and seizures, were witnessed and experienced with bad grace by the citizens of Cartoceto.

Since the XIII century, Cartoceto learned to take advantage of its special orographic shape becoming the most important centre in the Valmetauro for its olive oil production. Four oil mills located inside the village and in the environs produce excellent quality extra virgin olive oil. Every November, the month dedicated to olive picking and pressing, this ancient farming tradition is celebrated with Cartoceto’s olive and olive oil popular exhibition-market. Yet Cartoceto is not just about olive oil, since there are other equally renowned products such as wine and the tasty formaggio di fossa, or “pit cheese”.

Monuments