What to see in Gradara, how to get there and itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including Castello di Paolo and Francesca.
Tourist information
Located in the Marche in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, near the border with Emilia Romagna, the village of Gradara stands on a hill with its magnificent fortress, a famous noble residence in the medieval and Renaissance periods, known for being the scene of the story told by Dante in the Divine Comedy, concerning the story of Paolo and Francesca, the two lovers who found death here because of their love passion.
To get to Gradara by car, you must take the A14 motorway and exit at Cattolica, after taking the SS 16 following the signs for Pesaro, then those for Gradara Centro.
Alternatively, it is possible to arrive by bus, taking advantage of the frequent connections from Pesaro or Cattolica.
In the second half of the twelfth century, the Griffo family built a watchtower, then it was the Malatesta family who carried out the fundamental interventions on the structure, transforming it into a refined stately home.
What see
Military expansions were carried out between 1442 and 1462 by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, while some embellishments were added by Giovanni Sforza, further interventions date back to 1726 at the behest of Cardinal Annibale Albani.
In addition to the Malatesta and Sforza families, the Castle belonged to the Della Rovere family, in 1641 the property passed to the Papal States.
From 1775 to 1790, it was owned by the Marquis Barzi, subsequently after a long period of decay it fell into ruin.
In 1919 the fortress was purchased by the engineer Umberto Zanvectors, who carried out an important restoration of the fortress and walls, spending all his possessions, so in 1927, a year before his death, he decided to sell the property to the state, keeping the usufruct in favor of his wife Alberta Porta Natale, who being much younger than he, died in 1983.
The fortress can be visited through an evocative internal route, concerning the military and residential environments linked to all the historical characters who lived in its rooms.
The walls surround and protect the castle with a double ring.
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The walkways are partially walkable and allow you to appreciate the beautiful panorama.
The Gradara Museum, located in Piazza V Novembre, contains ancient objects and documents relating to the fascinating history of the village.
