Mondavio is perched on a hill situated in the mid-valley of the Cesano river, whose stream sets today’s border between the Ancona and the Pesaro Urbino provinces.
This ancient and elegant castle with its towers, belfries, its swooping surrounding walls and its strong Roveresca fortress dominates the landscape below which offers a characteristic view over the hills dotted with small hamlets here and there.
The origin of its name is still uncertain and is open to two diffused interpretations: "Mons Avii", Mount of Avio, as the name of a local XIV century esquire, and "Mons avium", the Mount of birds, which has a poetic and Franciscan flavour.
According to records, after the Roman town of Suasa was destroyed by Alraic, king of the Goths, the surviving population settled on the surrounding hills, giving origin to a number of villages, among which was Mondavio, then called "Parva Civitas in Piceno".
In the past, these sheltered and wooded areas nestled a convent which was built in the XII century according to St. Francis’s wishes who was delighted to find such a pleasant environment and richness of bird species in the lands given to him by the Ricci family.
In earlier times, this area was comprised in the Pentapoli Ravennate and suffered fierce incursions by the Lombards and Bulgarian.
Thanks to the presence of numerous wealthy aristocratic families, the town hosted the vicarage of Mondavio. In 1194 Enrico IV granted Mondavio to the Ubaldini, together with 25 more castles spread all the way from the Apennines down to the sea.
In 1327, pope John XII placed the 24 castles, which all together formed the vicarage of Mondavio, under the direct control of the Ancona marca. In the years comprised between the XIII and XIV century, from time to time, the Malatesta would attempt, unsuccessfully, to take over the vicarage.
By the XIV century Mondavio was inhabited and affirmed itself as a juridically recognised vicarage by cardinal Albornoz in 1355.
In  1376, Galeotto Malatesta, after plundering the village a number of times, finally managed to conquer Mondavio where he stayed.
After Galeotto’s death in 1391, pope Bonifacius IX confirmed, as the esquire of Mondavio, Pandolfo Malatesta who chose the castle as his living quarters. This period was to be remembered as a flourishing moment for the people in Mondavio, which became the scene of many a celebration.
Following the death of Pandolfo ad his brother, Carlo, in 1429 the vicarage returned under the Holy See’s rule. The castle was sought after for a long time between 1433 and 1441, by the Sforza and the Malatesta, until Francesco Sforza managed to take possession of the hamlet, which became dowry for his daughter, Polissena Sforza who was betrothed bride to Sigismondo Malatesta. This allowed the Malatesta family to live in Mondavio carrying out important upgrading and fortification works. The bride and bridegroom’s rule was put to an end by Alfonso D’Aragona and Federico da Montefeltro, the pope allies.
The pope, Sisto IV himself, thus handed the vicarage over to his nephew and commander Giovanni della Rovere, esquire of Senigallia, for his nuptials to Giovanna da Montefeltro, daughter of Federico. Giovanni stayed in Mondavio for some time. During the domination of the Della Rovere family, the vicarage witnessed a century of peace and progress during which the beautiful Rocca was built by architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
The years that saw the government of Giovanni and, later, his successor Francesco Maria della Rovere were to be remembered as the happiest and most prestigious in the history of Mondavio.
Following the extinction of the Della Rovere dynasty in 1631, the vicarage was absorbed by the Holy See, and in 1860 it was finally annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
In mid-August an historical commemoration of the Caccia al Cinghiale, the wild boar hunt, takes place every year. The celebrations commemorate the day Giovanni Della Rovere and the dignitaries from the dukedom of Urbino, were given the vicarage of Mondavio by pope Sisto IV as a wedding present for the nuptials of Giovanna da Montefeltro, Federico’s daughter.
The event opens  with a Renaissance feast, which in the following days is followed by parades, ability competitions with the participation of the 'Gruppo degli arcieri storici', the historical archers team, the staging of scenes from Renaissance life, only a taster of the spectacular evening performance “suoni e luci”, sounds and lights, which culminates in a fire simulation at the fortress.
During celebrations the hamlet’s squares and alleys thrive with street performers and musicians. In the meanwhile in the taverns and the Renaissance garden country-style food and special dishes from the Marche area cuisine can be tasted. 

Monuments