In the Roman period, Via Flaminia was the major road through the territory now identifiable as the modern province of Pesaro and Urbino. The road was the most important Adriatic connection from Rome to the Po Valley zone. Even today, several sections of the route of the modern SS3 Via Flaminia highway, which cuts across the Marches Region from the Adriatic, Fano, to the Scheggia Pass on the border of this region with Umbria, coincide with the old route of the consular way, still using various structures and infrastructures including roads, bridges, tunnels and retaining walls. If we travel the historical route today, as it wends through valleys, hills and narrow gullies, we will encounter important archaeological sites interspersed among fortified towns or villages hugging the Metauro Valley slopes: magical locations and treasure chests of tiny marvels.

The road left Rome near the Milvio Bridge, climbed the Tiber Valley as far as the Apennines in a first section, over a route that closely corresponded to that of Via Tiberina. When it entered Umbrian territory, at Narnia (Narni) it forked into two distinct branches, of which the original branch crossed Carsulae and continued as far as "ad Martis" (S. Maria in Pantano) and Mevania (Bevagna), then reconnected with the other branch at Forum Flaminii (Foligno). The other, later branch was 6 miles longer and crossed Interamna Nahars (Terni), Spoletium (Spoleto) and Trebiae (Trevi). After Forum Flaminii, only one road continued as far as Ariminum (Rimini): across the favourable Scheggia Pass (632 m asl), in Gubbio territory, then down the Adriatic side along the Metauro Valley. At Pontericcioli the road entered Marches territory, probably across a route that differs from today’s SS3 Flaminia highway, and was hallmarked by massive works of the Imperial age, many of which are still visible either in part or in their entirety: the "Voragine", the “Tre Archi” and the "Grosso" bridges and massive retaining walls that still serve as supports to today’s route; the "Grosso" bridge at Cantiano; the "Manlio" and "Taverna" bridges at Cagli, the constructions and drain tunnels at San Vincenzo al Furlo; the Vespasiano and the "Minore" tunnels at Furlo (Petra Pertusa); the Traiano bridge with its three arches (115 AD) near Calmazzo, where the Metauro meets the Candigliano; the remains of a tavern in the Tavernelle district; Forcole. The latter is a name that indicates a fork, probably a point where, historically, the Via Flaminia joined the coast road from Senigallia, passing through Papiria di Fano, Ponte Metauro, Camminate, San Costanzo, Mondolfo, Pirum Filumeni, and Senigallia itself. When the colony of Fanum Fortunae was founded (first century BC), the consular road was deviated to the new town, entering through the Arco di Augusto gate and leaving via the wall gate called "Mandria", then continuing, after Pesaro, over the Ponte Vecchio over the River Foglia, to Rimini’s Arco di Augusto and Augusto bridge.

Via Flaminia on the Tabula Peutingeriana, a map drawn on a parchment roll in the Middle Ages, and deriving from an original dated 4th century AD.