The name "Castrum Brittinori" dates back to before the year one thousand, under the Kingdom of Ottone III, and it probably comes from the stopovers the pilgrims often made in the peaceful village arriving even from as far away as Britanny and heading towards Rome or returning from here.

According to a legend the people of Bertinoro are fond of, the name of their town might come from Galla Placidia - the Emperor Valentiniano's mother - who wanted to praise the exellence of the local wines. She had been offrered some wine in a rough jug and it is said she exclaimed: "you wine are not worthy of such a rough jug, instead we should drink you in a gold cup". ("bere te in (una coppa) d'oro" - Bertinoro).

Bertinoro is well-known as the "town of hospitality" symbolised by its "Column of Rings", a stone column built in 1300 by the princes Guido del Duca and Arrigo Mainardi (mentioned by Dante Alighieri in canto XIV of Purgatory of the splendour and courtesy of their court) to end the many controversies arising among the noble families of the town over who was to host visitors from abroad.

Some rings-one for each of the noble families living in Bertinoro - were attached to the column: a visitor arriving into town and fastening his horse to one of the rings would directly become the guest of the family associated with that ring. every year, on the first Sunday of September, this centuries-old tradition is still repeated.