The most accepted theory on the town's name, wants it to derive from "monte arato" (plowed mountain side). Municipality in the province of Ancona, situated on a hill top behind Senigallia, on the border with the province of Pesaro-Urbino, the territory is crossed by the River Cesano and is particularly suitable for farming cultivations and boat building, recently become very popular world-wide for the precision and attention to detail of the local craftsmen and the creation of small luxury yacht industries. The village is surrounded by a superb environment and is dominated by the castle, located not far from an important series of crossroads.
The town's foundation is quite recent, from the second half of the XIII century, an era in which the inhabitants of Francavilla di Castel Colonna received the permission to build their houses on the hill, where now stands the town. However, the area probably was already inhabited in ancient times, as evidenced by finds, recently retrieved in several excavations. Monterado submitted the domain of the Malatesta family for about two hundred years, until in the second half of the XV century, the territories were ceded to the Della Rovere. In the XVII century it became part of the Duchy of Urbino, until it passed, under the control of the Papal States. During the Napoleonic period, the town belonged to the Dukes of Leuchtenberg and finally was assigned to the province of Ancona after the unification of Italy.

Attractions:
- the Church of Santo Stefano, located outside the walls, the façade features an original decoration with ceramics;
- the Parish Church of San Giacomo Maggiore characterized by an unusual apse, that faces to the West;
- the XVII century Castle, which was commissioned by the Jesuits. Its present form was designed by Vanvitelli in the mid XVIII century, was assigned to Eugenio Beauharnais. After his death, the castle became property of the Holy See and was sold to the Count Cerasi. Later it became the property of Alexander Cinciari and at present is used as a hotel. It features an imposing and elegant building, preceded by a beautiful park. Most of the structure has remained intact over the years and some halls and rooms are decorated with XIX century frescoes by the artist Corradi. It also offers to its guests a superb panorama over the sea;
- the fortified walls built during the period of domain of the Malatesta.