Lies 73 km from the Adriatic Coast, along the route of the Flaminian Way as it passes through the valley of the River Burano, beneath the slopes of Monte Catria (1702 m).
Situated between the hills of San Ubaldo and San Nicolò, the town is partially cut off by the waters of the Burano and the Bevano, on a hillock topped by the walled remains of its ancient castle. Founded as a fortress back in 560, it became a refuge for the surviving inhabitants of the ancient settlement of Luceoli (which stood where the nearby village of Pontericcioli now stands) when it was destroyed in 996. It was subsequently stormed by Frederick II of Swabia in 1244 and given by him to the city of Gubbio. The people of Gubbio built its fortifications, though the Montefeltros carried out further fortification work when it later became part of the dukedom of Urbino. Federico da Montefeltro, during this period, commissioned Francesco di Giorgio Martini to repair the fortress and the walls of the so-called "Girone". Among the more interesting buildings in the town are the church of Sant'Agostino with its fine Romanesque entrance (13th century), the Collegiate Church of San Giovanni Battista which conserves a fine tondo by Eusebio da San Giorgio (15th Century),as well as other 17th Century paintings by Claudio Ridolfi, by the Cantiano artist Francesco Allegrini and by others. Also of interest are the churches of San Nicolò and Sant'Ubaldo and the narrow street of via Fiorucci flanked by its 12th century buildings. In the neighbouring districts of Le Foci and Pontericcioli there are also two fine double span Roman bridges with robust central piers. The annual "Turba" is a traditional Cantiano event. This is a costume re-enactment of the Passion of Christ which takes place on Good Friday.
The "Parco Naturale del Bosco di Tecchie", a large natural beech wood extending over 180 hectares, also lies within the Cantiano district at Serre del Burano. Its landscape is characterised by a double ridge leading up to Pian della Serra (1020m).