GRADARA: the village of villages 2018
14 km from Riccione is Gradara: the Borgo dei Borghi 2018, for the broadcast Kilimanjaro and its audience is the most beautiful in Italy.
When you arrive in Gradara, you find yourself catapulted into an atmosphere of other times, dominated by a surreal peace and quiet.
I would like to suggest the things to see in Gradara:
– Visit the Rocca Malatestiana
formed by a quadrilateral with corner towers. It was first a military fortress, then transformed into a noble residence by the powerful families in the domination of the territory: the Malatesta, the Sforza and the Della Rovere.
As soon as you cross the drawbridge you enter the courtyard, in front of the Mastio, the most powerful tower of the castle.
Enter the halls:
- the torture room,
- the Hall of the Guardhouse
- the Gentile Chapel
- Hall of Sigismund and Isolt,
- the Passion Room,
- the dressing room of Lucrezia Borgia,
- the Cardinal's Chamber,
- the Hall of Putti,
- the council chamber,
- Francesca's Room.
– Walk the walkways of Ronda
You will be able to walk on a stretch of the walls, from which you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view and you can admire the structure of the walls, with its loopholes and battlements.
Paolo and Francesca
You cannot see Gradara without knowing the story of Paolo and Francesca, who so fascinated writers, poets, artists, painters and musicians, from Dante Alighieri to Francesco Petrarca, from Giovanni Boccaccio to Ugo Foscolo, from Silvio Pellico to Giosuè Carducci, from Giovanni Pastures to Gabriele D'Annunzio. Hearing it told by an expert guide is like taking a dive into the past, reliving the emotions and sensations of the past.
Francesca hoped that her father would find her a pleasant and kind husband, instead he, in 1275, decided to give her daughter's hand to Giovanni Malatesta (known as Giangiotto, lame Giovanni) who had helped him drive out her enemies .
To avoid possible rejection by the young Francesca, the powerful lords of Rimini and Ravenna plotted the deception: by sending Paolo il Bello, Giangiotto's brother, to Ravenna.
Francesca accepted with joy and on her wedding day, she happily pronounced her "yes" without knowing that Paolo was marrying her "artificially" on behalf of her brother Giangiotto. Francesca soon resigned and had a daughter.
Paolo, who had properties near Gradara, often visited his sister-in-law and regretted having lent himself to deception!
One of the brothers became aware of the secret meetings between Paolo and Francesca and notified Giangiotto, who, every morning, left for Pesaro to carry out his office of Podestà, only to return late in the evening. He pretended to leave, but he returned by a secret passage and, while Paolo and Francesca read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere, "come amor li strinse", they gave each other a chaste kiss. Just at that moment Giangiotto opened the door and, blinded by his jealousy, drew his sword. Paolo tried to save himself through the trapdoor, but his dress caught on a nail, he had to go back and, while Giangiotto was about to kill him with his sword, Francesca stepped in front of him to save him and thus killed them both.
The unfortunate lovers are thus immortalized by Dante in the Divine Comedy - V canto of the Inferno, because they are stained with a very serious sin, but he makes them wander together.
– Walk along the promenade of lovers
let yourself be enveloped by the magic of Gradara, walking through its alleys and streets, get lost along the way of love between kisses and hugs and don't miss the path called "Monte delle Lie" which crosses the opposite side of the town, in the middle of a wood and from where you can admire a breathtaking panorama from Gabicce to Cesenatico.
– Visit the churches of Gradara
Church of San Giovanni: at the entrance to the castle, on the right, it is small and intimate. Inside, the 15th century wooden sculpture is striking, representing a crucified Christ, very realistic and evocative, looking at his face from different angles it seems to change expression.
Church of the Blessed Sacrament: a small church from the end of the 16th century, located near the clock tower. Rebuilt in the mid-18th century, inside you can admire an altarpiece attributed to the Urbino painter Cimatori, a rare bellows organ recently restored and the remains of San Clemente, a martyr of the 2nd century.
– Visit the Historical Museum of Gradara
To take a trip to the Middle Ages, visit the historical museum of Gradara, ancient objects and historical documents through which you can relive the history of the city and beyond.
– the Garden of Olives
You can find the Olive Garden in via dei Cappuccini with its fascinating centuries-old olive trees.
I have already fallen in love with Gradara! and you... have you already been there? When you go there…tell me your impressions…
When you arrive in Gradara, you find yourself catapulted into an atmosphere of other times, dominated by a surreal peace and quiet.
I would like to suggest the things to see in Gradara:
– Visit the Rocca Malatestiana
formed by a quadrilateral with corner towers. It was first a military fortress, then transformed into a noble residence by the powerful families in the domination of the territory: the Malatesta, the Sforza and the Della Rovere.
As soon as you cross the drawbridge you enter the courtyard, in front of the Mastio, the most powerful tower of the castle.
Enter the halls:
- the torture room,
- the Hall of the Guardhouse
- the Gentile Chapel
- Hall of Sigismund and Isolt,
- the Passion Room,
- the dressing room of Lucrezia Borgia,
- the Cardinal's Chamber,
- the Hall of Putti,
- the council chamber,
- Francesca's Room.
– Walk the walkways of Ronda
You will be able to walk on a stretch of the walls, from which you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view and you can admire the structure of the walls, with its loopholes and battlements.
Paolo and Francesca
You cannot see Gradara without knowing the story of Paolo and Francesca, who so fascinated writers, poets, artists, painters and musicians, from Dante Alighieri to Francesco Petrarca, from Giovanni Boccaccio to Ugo Foscolo, from Silvio Pellico to Giosuè Carducci, from Giovanni Pastures to Gabriele D'Annunzio. Hearing it told by an expert guide is like taking a dive into the past, reliving the emotions and sensations of the past.
Francesca hoped that her father would find her a pleasant and kind husband, instead he, in 1275, decided to give her daughter's hand to Giovanni Malatesta (known as Giangiotto, lame Giovanni) who had helped him drive out her enemies .
To avoid possible rejection by the young Francesca, the powerful lords of Rimini and Ravenna plotted the deception: by sending Paolo il Bello, Giangiotto's brother, to Ravenna.
Francesca accepted with joy and on her wedding day, she happily pronounced her "yes" without knowing that Paolo was marrying her "artificially" on behalf of her brother Giangiotto. Francesca soon resigned and had a daughter.
Paolo, who had properties near Gradara, often visited his sister-in-law and regretted having lent himself to deception!
One of the brothers became aware of the secret meetings between Paolo and Francesca and notified Giangiotto, who, every morning, left for Pesaro to carry out his office of Podestà, only to return late in the evening. He pretended to leave, but he returned by a secret passage and, while Paolo and Francesca read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere, "come amor li strinse", they gave each other a chaste kiss. Just at that moment Giangiotto opened the door and, blinded by his jealousy, drew his sword. Paolo tried to save himself through the trapdoor, but his dress caught on a nail, he had to go back and, while Giangiotto was about to kill him with his sword, Francesca stepped in front of him to save him and thus killed them both.
The unfortunate lovers are thus immortalized by Dante in the Divine Comedy - V canto of the Inferno, because they are stained with a very serious sin, but he makes them wander together.
– Walk along the promenade of lovers
let yourself be enveloped by the magic of Gradara, walking through its alleys and streets, get lost along the way of love between kisses and hugs and don't miss the path called "Monte delle Lie" which crosses the opposite side of the town, in the middle of a wood and from where you can admire a breathtaking panorama from Gabicce to Cesenatico.
– Visit the churches of Gradara
Church of San Giovanni: at the entrance to the castle, on the right, it is small and intimate. Inside, the 15th century wooden sculpture is striking, representing a crucified Christ, very realistic and evocative, looking at his face from different angles it seems to change expression.
Church of the Blessed Sacrament: a small church from the end of the 16th century, located near the clock tower. Rebuilt in the mid-18th century, inside you can admire an altarpiece attributed to the Urbino painter Cimatori, a rare bellows organ recently restored and the remains of San Clemente, a martyr of the 2nd century.
– Visit the Historical Museum of Gradara
To take a trip to the Middle Ages, visit the historical museum of Gradara, ancient objects and historical documents through which you can relive the history of the city and beyond.
– the Garden of Olives
You can find the Olive Garden in via dei Cappuccini with its fascinating centuries-old olive trees.
I have already fallen in love with Gradara! and you... have you already been there? When you go there…tell me your impressions…