"Love, which absolves no beloved from loving": tradition sets in Gradara the tragedy of Paolo and Francesca, the in-law lovers Dante meets in the fifth canto of the Inferno. The Malatesta fortress, with double walls and walkable patrol rounds, is among Italy's best-preserved castles — and sunset from the ramparts is an appointment.
The village, an orange-flag and "most beautiful" listee, lives on taverns and re-enactments: in July the Siege of the Castle rekindles 1446 with hundreds in costume. The sea of Gabicce and Cattolica is ten minutes away: Middle Ages and beach umbrella in the same day.
Casciotta d'Urbino
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Festivals, food fairs and events throughout the year.
Nearest airport: Rimini Fellini, 16 km away
Gradara is part of 🏘️ Villages
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📅 Every year, on the third Sunday of September
Gradara celebrates Saint Terentius of Pesaro on the third Sunday of September in the church of San Giovanni Battista; the town is dominated by the Malatesta Rocca, the most visited museum in the Marche region, and by a double ring of medieval walls.
Sheep's and cow's milk, aged twenty to thirty days: casciotta d'Urbino, Michelangelo's favourite cheese, has been DOP since 1996.
Read more →Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Gradara, but an easy day trip away.
