The Metauro River

The story of a river begins with the source, generally on a mountain, in the form of a rivulet, stream or springs of water fed by glaciers, snow and rain.Our Metauro, for example, rises in the form of a rivulet and springs of water that develop in two different areas:
1. in the mountains of Bocca Trabaria pass (Lamoli, near Arezzo);
2. in the Alpe della Luna ( near Arezzo).
The little streams of Bocca Trabaria set up a torrent, the Meta; the rivulets of Alpe della Luna make another torrent, the Auro. The two torrents meet in Borgo Pace becoming one river: the Metauro. Usually the confluence is the place where the main river receives the waters of an affluent, or where an affluent receives a subaffluent. However, in the case of the Metauro, the confluence is the source. A river has a hydrographic basin which is the territory where the waters meet. The Metauro basin meausres 1400 square kms. and is included in the provinces of Perugia and Arezzo. It is the biggest fluvial basin of our region, the Marche.
The length of a river is calculated measuring the distance from the source to the mouth: our river is 110 kms long. Rivers receive a contribution of water from affluents and confluents. The affluents of the Metauro are:
The Biscuvio : at Piobbico
The Burano : at Acqualagna
The Candigliano : at Calmazzo
The Tarugo : at S. Ippolito.
The Puto : at S. Ippolito
The Maggiore : north of Tavernelle

On the upper course of The Metauro there is a waterfall at S. Angelo in Vado, called Cascata del Sasso, where it forms a lake; there are also some rapids in Urbania and a dam on the affluent Candigliano in Furlo Gorge. Its regimen is torrential because it is irregular; in February its flow is at its highest point, in August at its lowest. The lower course of the river begins at Fossombrone, through the alluvional plain formed by its debris, made of pebbles, of sandstones, calcareous and flintstone rocks. On the lower course it is possible to see bands and meanders of the river too. The Metauro flows into the Adriatic Sea. Many centuries ago its mouth was a delta, now it is an estuary. Because of the excessive excavation of pebbles, in fact, it can’t deposit alluvional material any more. The plants growing along its banks are white and black poplars and above, in the mountaneous part, alders. In the plain water plants may be found, like reeds and flints.
Near its mouth the river has formed little lakes with stagnant waters, which are the shelters of aquatic birds like herons, ducks, kingfishers and swallows.

Some notes on the river

In the most remote times the river was the most important means of livelihood for the populations who lived there hunting and collecting fruits.Soon they started having a fixed living and the river had a new function: defence. During the Roman Empire there were two bridges in Fossombrone:the first one was built by Traiano in 115 B. C. near Calmazzo (it was destroyed during the last war)and the second one was built by Diocleziano in San Lazzaro. On this river there was an important struggle between Romans and Carthaginian in 207 B.C. and Asdrubale’s army was defeated by Claudio Nerone and Livio Salinatore.
Than there was the period of Barbarian invasions: this place wasn’t safe anymore,so people left the plains and  moved to the hills building villages. These villages became soon commercial centres thanks to the direct contact with the river and the Via Flaminia. The Metauro river didn’t lose its function of defence,and it was important also for the economy. In fact since the XI century water mills began to spread and also dikes were built. The river also solved important hygienic and health problems represented by the Fano sewer which unloaded directly into the Metauro river. As we can see, the Metauro has always been the point of reference for the inhabitants of Fano. Important laws concerning this river were introduced. The water was considered common property. The white stone was extracted from the river bank and so there was a great number of activities: wool mills,mills,stone, diggers ,fishermen, dye-works, leather tanners ...
There were also other people that went to the Metauro: compilers of wicker baskets, humble women that washed their dresses rubbing them with pebbles..