This fortified town, as its name suggests, stands guard over the entire Lower Metauro Valley from a prominent wooded hill. It stands, with its picturesque pointed bell towers, just 3.5 km from the Calcinelli cross roads (13.4 km from Fano) on the ancient Flaminian Way.
The town, which dates back to the Late Medieval period, originally belonged to the Benedictine monks of San Paterniano in Fano. Montemaggiore was used by the Malatestas as one of the main bastions to defend the coastal area from the inland Montefeltro territory, until Federico da Montefeltro captured it in 1462. The town then became part of the Duchy of Urbino, following its fortunes until it passed to the Church in 1631. In 1944 it was the scene of armed conflict between the German troops, on their retreat towards the "Gothic Line", and the allies. The 18^th Century Palazzo Comunale (town hall) in the town's piazza once belonged to the Marfori family. From here, a stairway rises up to the fortified centre of the town, passing under an elegant tower which has been entirely rebuilt to its original design after its wartime destruction. The parish church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, at the top of the stairway, dates back to the 15th Century but has been modified at various times. Inside there is a picture of "The Last Supper" by the school of the Urbino painter Barocci. Here, from between the battlements of the town wall, we can enjoy the fine panorama across the Metauro Valley and down to the coastal plain.
Montemaggiore is now well known for its nurseries which grow chrysanthemums, for its wine production (the well known "Bianchello del Metauro") and for its "Valmetauro" cheese.