A few miles from the Adriatic beach resorts, Gradara is one of the most popular Marche’s tourist destinations. The imposing 14th century walls surrounding the town are some of the best preserved in the Marche, with their crenellated battlements and bristling towers. The single main street leads up through the city gates to the fortress at the higher end of the town. The squared fortress, a polygonal tower on the northern side, dominates the town: it was here, according to tradition, that the murder of Francesca da Rimini and her lover Paolo, the lovers immortalized by Dante in his Divina Commedia, took place in 1289. It dates back to the twelfth century, but was changed under the rule of the Malatesta and the Sforza families. Pieces of 15th century furniture, valuable frescoes and altarpieces can be admired inside. The most typical dish is the “bigol,” a kind of homemade spaghetti seasoned with mushroom or gravy sauce.Tourist informationTel. 0541 964115www.comune.gradara.pu.itwww.gradara.orgwww.turismo.pesarourbino.it
Adriatic-Route for Thematic Tourism
