Village of San Giovanni in Marignano

Via di Mezzo is the village’s main road and crosses through it. Numerous eighteenth and nineteenth century palaces line the road, which can be entered by an ancient gate/tower (municipal clock tower) from the main square piazza Silvagni. All the other narrow streets of the historic centre lead onto this road and the entire area is well worth visiting.

The original layout of the town dates from the thirteenth century, rebuilt and fortified under the rule of the Malatestas (1438 – 1442). Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta decided to reinforce and enlarge at least five of his military fortifications, including San Giovanni in Marignano. To this end, he summoned the architect Filippo Brunelleschi.
Throughout the village are underground chambers which were designed as storage space for grain. These came to light during recent restoration work and are visible in places. It was these chambers which made San Giovanni in Marignano known as the “Granary of the Malatestas”, suggesting that the grain stored here was notable both for quantity and quality.