Hidden amongst vineyards Via Colombarone climbs towards Bertinoro. This isn’t just any road. It’s the namesake of a renowned wine. The Colombarone wine hails from the Tenute La Viola estate. It’s a Romagna Sangiovese Superiore DOC. This wine first appeared in 1998. It perfectly embodies the estate’s philosophy. The grapes come from middle-aged vines. They’re hand-picked in September. The wine then ages partially in steel and partly in French oak barrels. The result is a bright ruby-red wine. Its aromas hint at cherry violet spice and minerals. The Colombarone wine offers a rich and persistent taste. It’s harmonious and well-balanced a true reflection of its terroir.
But the name Colombarone resonates far beyond wine. In Pesaro lies an archaeological area. It’s also named Colombarone. This site boasts centuries of history. Excavations from 1983 to 2008 revealed a late antique villa. A basilica and a parish church also stand there. The villa dates back to the late third century. It once housed a landowner or state official. The remarkably preserved mosaics date between the fourth and sixth centuries. They offer a glimpse into the lives of past inhabitants. In the sixth century parts of the structure were transformed into a Christian church. This became the basilica of San Cristoforo ad Aquilam. A cemetery surrounded it. The church underwent various transformations over the centuries. It finally became a simple parish church. The oldest part was demolished at the end of the twelfth century. A new church called the Chiesola was built in its place but was demolished in 1858. Colombarone’s significance as a religious center never waned. A small church was built in the nineteenth century. The current church followed in the early twentieth century. The Antiquarium museum now resides in the nineteenth-century church. It houses artifacts from the excavations. These include ceramics bronzes glassware and amphorae. The amphorae indicate food imports from across the Mediterranean. The basilica’s unique finds include a glass window and fragments of a marble iconostasis. Also discovered was a multi-light pendant chandelier a coin treasure and glass chalices. Everyday objects like ornaments clothing coins and simple utensils provide insights into the daily life of the inhabitants. The archaeological area reopened in 2016. The Antiquarium followed in 2019. Both sites offer an immersive journey through time. They are a testament to the rich and layered history of Colombarone.