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Photo: Santista1982, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic village
Gradara
Italian comune
At a glance
- Type
- Historic village
- Elevation
- 142 m above sea level
- Area
- 17,530,000 m²
- Coordinates
- 43°56′20″ N, 12°46′17″ E
History and description
Gradara is a town and comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino (PU), in the region of Marche in central Italy. It is 6 km from Gabicce Mare and Cattolica, 25 km from Rimini, 15 km from Pesaro and 33 km from Urbino. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
The ancient town is characterized by a double line of medieval walls and by the massive castle, one of the best preserved in Italy. It is famous as being the location of the episode of Paolo and Francesca described by Dante Alighieri in the V Canto of his Inferno. With its castle as a major tourist attraction, the town is considered by some to be functionally an extension of the riviera romagnola.
History
The construction of the castle was begun in the 12th century by Pietro and Ridolfo del Grifo. Later, Malatesta da Verucchio captured the Grifo tower, which became the mastio of the current castle, which was to be finished in the 15th century.
After the Malatesta seignory, the town was conquered by the Sforza in the September 1289. Here, in 1494, arrived Lucrezia Borgia, wife of Giovanni Sforza. After a short domination of Lucrezia's brother, Cesare, Gradara was handed over to the della Rovere. After the end of the latter's dynasty, the city was administered directly by the Popes.
In November 2019, the South Ossetian foreign minister Dmitry Medoyev paid a courtesy visit to Gradara, where he met with Mayor Filippo Gasperi and President of the Administration Frederico Marmarella. Both sides discussed issues of humanitarian and cultural cooperation. In the course of the visit an agreement was reached to hold an exhibition of paintings by Ossetian artists in Gradara as part of the Days of Ossetian Culture in Europe in July 2022.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Gradara».
Photos
Getting there
Cattolica-San Giovanni-GabicceTrain, nearest
3.1 km as the crow flies
Gradara
Aeroporto internazionale Federico Fellini15.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villages in Marche
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Gradara?
Gradara is in Gradara, in the province of Pesaro e Urbino (Marche), Italy. GPS coordinates: 43.93887, 12.77125.
What else is there to see near Gradara?
Nearby you’ll find: Rocca di Gradara (500 m away), Gradara Castle (500 m away), Colombarone (1.9 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 8 photos
- Gradara02 — Santista1982, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Borgo Storico di Gradara — Irene Buda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Borgo storico Gradara 01 — Diego Baglieri, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello di Gradara, Province of Pesaro and Urbino, Marche, Italy - panoramio — trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cuori sparsi nel centro storico di Gradara — Giacomo Alessandroni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gradara - 51595666052 — Peter Leth, CC BY 2.0
- Gradara (P1180327) — Sergio Conti, CC BY-SA 2.0
- DSC00677Contr — Risa G WiCo18, CC0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences