01Gabicce at a glance
A trip down the coast from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini. Gabicce Mare is the first town in the Marche after Cattolica. It has a sandy beach, the headland of Gabicce Monte with views along the whole Riviera, the bay of the Vallugola and the San Bartolo villages high above the sea.
It's 32.3 km from the hotel, about 40 minutes by car, and you'll be back by the sea in time for our Romagna cooking. For festivals and events at the time of your stay, see our events in Rimini page.
| Where | Gabicce Mare, 61011 Gabicce Mare (PU), Marche. IAT tourist office at Viale della Vittoria 41. For Gabicce Monte, leave the SS16 and take the SP44 Strada Panoramica |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 32.3 km, about 40 minutes |
| By train | Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce railway station |
| When to go | spring to autumn, for the beach and the San Bartolo paths |
02History and fun facts
- Gabicce Mare is the northernmost town in the Marche, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino. The Tavollo stream divides it from Cattolica and Emilia-Romagna, and since 2008 a moving footbridge and cycle bridge has joined the two towns.
- The first settlement was Gabicce Monte, up on the headland at 144 metres, about 2.3 km from the centre. The castle first appears in records in 998 as Castrum Ligabitii, a name that gradually became Ligabicci, then Le Gabicce and finally Gabicce.
- Little of the Gabicce Monte fortress is left today apart from the church of Sant'Ermete, named after the town's patron saint, whose feast day is 28 August. Until the Second World War you could still see sections of the walls and the gateway with its small bell tower.
- The Strada Panoramica climbs to the paved square of Gabicce Monte, lined with restaurants looking out to sea. From the top of the headland you can see across the bay of Gabicce and along the Romagna coast.
- Gabicce Mare grew up after the First World War, when a harbour shared with Cattolica was built at the mouth of the Tavollo and brought fishing and tourism with it. In 1942 the town hall moved down from Gabicce Monte to the lower town.
- Gabicce Mare's beach has soft sand that shelves gently into the water, and it kept its Blue Flag in 2026. The headland of Gabicce Monte marks the southern end of the Romagna Riviera.
03Things to see and do
Gabicce is the gateway to the Monte San Bartolo Regional Nature Park, set up in 1994 between Gabicce Mare and Pesaro. It protects a stretch of active cliffs, rare on the Adriatic, with small beaches of sand, pebbles and rock.
The Strada Panoramica crosses the park for about 16 km to Pesaro, through hills and broom with views down to the sea. At the foot of the climb to Gabicce Monte, the "Pantani bend" is named after the cycling champion who trained on this road.
The Baia della Vallugola is a natural cove between the Gabicce and Casteldimezzo headlands, with a pebble beach and a small marina. In ancient times Greek ships heading for Adria and Spina called in here, and objects from the 5th century BC have been found in the water. Legend says the sunken city of Valbruna lies here.
The Montagnola plateau, at 196 metres, is called the "roof of the world" because of its sweeping sea views. In April and May the broom turns it yellow along the Sentiero Ripe di Casteldimezzo, the path that leads down to the Vallugola.
Casteldimezzo, the ancient Castrum Medii, stands at around 200 metres and looks out to Gradara castle and the towers of San Marino. Part of its walls survive, as does the church of Santi Apollinare e Cristoforo, with a 15th-century crucifix attributed to Jacobello del Fiore.
Fiorenzuola di Focara is one of four castles built between the 10th and 13th centuries, along with Casteldimezzo, Gradara and Granarola. Parts of the walls and three bastions are still standing, as are the bell tower of the church of Sant'Andrea and a plaque with Dante's lines from Canto XXVIII of the Inferno. From the Strada della Marina you can walk down to a small pebble beach.
Sources: Wikipedia · treccani.it · parcosanbartolo.it · cattolica.info · bandierablu.org · visitgabicce.it · Riviera di Rimini · comune.gabicce-mare.pu.it. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
For Gabicce Mare, leave the A14 at the Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce Mare exit, or take the train to Cattolica-S.Giovanni-Gabicce station. From Cattolica you can also walk or cycle across the swing bridge over the Tavollo. For Gabicce Monte, turn off the SS16 just before Case Badioli onto the SP44 Strada Panoramica, which carries on through the Parco San Bartolo to Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola di Focara and Pesaro. The park authority has themed walking routes, plus guided walks and events through the year. Wear comfortable shoes and take great care near the cliff edge. Tourist information from the IAT office, Viale della Vittoria 41 (iat.gabicce@regione.marche.it).
Opening hours, prices and dates may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: Wikipedia · cattolica.info · Riviera di Rimini · parcosanbartolo.it · comune.gabicce-mare.pu.it. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 32.3 km, about 40 minutes. At reception we'll suggest the best route and the easiest places to park. Your space back at the hotel stays free in our private car park, which is fenced and has CCTV.
Without a car: the no. 4 bus stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and goes to Rimini station, where you can catch a regional train to Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce.
06Nearby
- Cattolica, across the bridge over the Tavollo
- Gradara and its castle (about 5 km)
- Casteldimezzo and Fiorenzuola di Focara in the Parco San Bartolo
- Pesaro along the Strada Panoramica (about 16 km)
- Misano Adriatico and Portoverde
- Baia della Vallugola
- Misano World Circuit
- Gradara
- Cattolica Aquarium
More ideas for days out on our things to do in Rimini and inland hills and villages pages.
07What our guests say
What guests say about the hotel's location and days out.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Handy for everything
«excellent location, close to everything, the sea included, but on a quiet street.»
08FAQ
Is Gabicce Mare in Romagna or in the Marche?
It's in the Marche, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, and is the region's northernmost town. The Tavollo stream divides it from Cattolica, in Emilia-Romagna, and a footbridge and cycle bridge joins the two.
What is the best way to see the San Bartolo Park?
Drive the Strada Panoramica from Gabicce Monte towards Pesaro, stopping at Casteldimezzo and Fiorenzuola di Focara, or walk the park's paths, such as the one up to the "tetto del mondo" (roof of the world) and down to the Vallugola. In spring the hills are bright with flowering broom.
What is the Vallugola beach like?
It's a small pebbly bay between the Gabicce and Casteldimezzo headlands, with a little marina and clear water, very different from the sandy beaches of the Riviera.
How far is Gabicce from Hotel Viking?
32.3 km, about 40 minutes by car from Viserbella di Rimini. Without a car, take the bus to Rimini station and then the train.
How much time do I need for Gabicce?
Half a day for Gabicce Mare and Gabicce Monte, or a full day if you add the Strada Panoramica and the San Bartolo villages.
Where should I stay to explore the Romagna Riviera?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini: a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year and halfway between Ravenna and Gabicce.
