Mercatello sul Metauro is a historic market town on the Metauro River in central Italy’s Le Marche region. Mercatello was founded in 1235 when Pieve d’Ico invited seven noble families, who lived in small castles in the hills, to make their homes in the new town, then named Pieve d’Ico.

Each of the seven families built a palazzo, or mansion, around the main square. 50 years later, walls were erected around the town and its name was changed to Mercatello sul Metauro.