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	the name of Mondavio is found for the first time in a document of 1178 and later in a Vatican register of 1289. The town is therefore pre-exists the probable passage of St. Francis on the place given to him by the Ricci family to build a monastery. The Saint on that occasion would welcomed the amenity of the area and the variety of birds. And those expressions derived the name Mons avium as &quot;Mount of Birds&quot; (now there&#39;s a dove in the municipal coat of arms). This being one of many explanations of the origin of the name, we can uncertain consider the true meaning of &quot;Mondavio&quot;.</div>
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	Vicariate of capital with jurisdiction over twenty-four castles, knew various domains, including that of the Malatesta, Alessandro Piccolomini, Giovanni della Rovere, Lorenzo de &#39;Medici and the city of Fano. In 1442 triumphantly she crossed the town walls Sigismund Malatesta, whose wife Polyxena Sforza brought him the Vicariate, subtracted to the Church by his father Francis in a period of serious unrest. In 1462 the territory is the scene of the historic battle between Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta and Federico da Montefeltro who militated in the files of the Church (Pope Pius II) with the Malatesta.</div>
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	With the end of the Malatesta, the Vicariate of Mondavio returned to the direct rule of the Church as Fano and Senigallia. In late 1463 the vicarage with Montemarciano Senigallia and was enfeoffed to the nephew of Pope Pius II, Antonio Piccolomini, but the rule was short-lived since Pius II died in August of 1464 and Mondavio, Senigallia, San Costanzo and Mondolfo, with other castles rebelled against the Piccolomini and submitted themselves to the governor of Fano, the bishop of Perugia, Giacomo Vannucci of Cortona. The ascent to the papacy of Sixtus IV Della Rovere in 1471 ushered in a nepotism policy that will have major consequences in the territory.</div>
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	In 1473 the pope decorated Federico da Montefeltro with the title of Duke and he accepted to become related with the Della Rovere in giving his daughter Giovanna married to the nephew of Pope John Della Rovere ( 1502). The marriage took place in October 1474 and after a few days John was invested in the city of Senigallia, in the vicariate of Mondavio and other lands. Giovanni lived for some time in Mondavio and gave the charge to the brilliant architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini to build the fortress (built between 1482 and 1492), that in all these centuries has never undergone any siege and has never fired a shot by his guns. Giovanni&#39;s son, Francesco Maria, perhaps born in Mondavio, in 1503 succeeded his uncle Guidobaldo in the Duchy of Urbino and I also incorporated the Vicariate of Mondavio.</div>
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	During the reign of the Della Rovere, the Vicariate experienced a period of peace, prosperity and progress of about one hundred and thirty years, this was the time of great celebrations. In 1631, with the extinction of the Della Rovere dynasty, Ducato and the Vicariate of Mondavio return to the jurisdiction of the Holy See.</div>
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	The fortress of Mondavio, probably dating from 1482-1492, was commissioned by Giovanni della Rovere, along with other fortresses of the Duchy, the architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Having never suffered attacks is still in excellent condition. The keep to eight faces dominating the majestic fortress and connects to a walkway, protected by a torrioncino, leading to a massive semi-circular tower, together with a bridge at the entrance lunette. The original plan westward further round tower that was never realized. The internal rooms still retain, for the most part, the original plant and are currently used as exhibition spaces and museums, including an important armory.</div>
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	Source: Wikipedia</div>
