01Gradara at a glance
A day trip inland from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini: Gradara is the walled village with the Rocca of the Paolo and Francesca legend, just over the border in the Marche, a stone's throw from Cattolica.
It is 36.7 km from the hotel, about 50 minutes by car: a half or full day out, and in the evening you are back by the sea for our Romagna cooking. Food festivals and local celebrations are listed on the events in Rimini page.
| Where | Rocca di Gradara (fortress), Piazza Alberta Porta Natale 1, 61012 Gradara (PU) |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 36.7 km, about 50 minutes |
| When to go | all year round; food festivals and fairs in autumn |
02History
- Gradara stands on a hill 142 metres above sea level, on the border between the Marche and Emilia-Romagna, in a strategic position overlooking the coast.
- The original core of the Rocca dates back to the 12th century and can still be seen in the massive Torre del Mastio (the keep), which still holds a large water cistern inside, vital for the soldiers during long sieges.
- Between the 13th and 14th centuries Gradara passed to the Malatesta family, lords of Verucchio and later of Rimini; in 1463 the Rocca was taken by Federico di Montefeltro and handed to the Sforza family of Pesaro.
- In 1494 Giovanni Sforza had work carried out on the Rocca, recorded by an inscription on the drawbridge, probably to welcome his young bride Lucrezia Borgia; you can still visit Lucrezia Borgia's small chamber in the north-east tower.
- The village is enclosed by two rings of walls: the name "rocca" refers to the oldest and highest part, while "castello" means the whole village inside the walls. You can also walk along the crenellated walls.
- Legend has it that Gradara was the setting for the tragedy of Paolo and Francesca, told by Dante in Canto V of the Inferno: Francesca da Polenta, wife of Gianciotto Malatesta, and her brother-in-law Paolo were supposedly caught together and killed in September 1289. The protagonists really existed, but many details of the story belong to literary tradition.
03What to see
Francesca's Chamber was furnished in the 1920s by the engineer Umberto Zanvettori, inspired by D’Annunzio's tragedy: here you will find the lectern with the fateful book and the trapdoor through which, according to the story, Paolo tried to escape.
The rooms owe their present appearance to the restoration commissioned by Umberto Zanvettori between 1921 and 1923, which also rebuilt the exterior damaged by the 1916 earthquake. In 1928 the Rocca was sold to the Italian State.
The works on display in the Rocca include Giovanni Santi's altarpiece of the Madonna Enthroned with Child (1484), a glazed terracotta by Andrea Della Robbia in the chapel and the frieze in the Sala della Passione painted by Amico Aspertini.
Gradara is one of the Borghi più belli d’Italia (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy), holds the Touring Club Italiano's Orange Flag and was voted Borgo dei Borghi (Italy's favourite village) in 2018.
Through the year the village hosts events such as the Assedio al Castello (Siege of the Castle), Gradara d’Amare and the Castello di Natale (Christmas Castle).
Sources: gradara.org · roccadigradara.org · cultura.gov.it. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
Strolling around the village is free. The state-owned Rocca is a national museum: from 1 October 2026 it is open on Mondays from 9:30 to 13:15 (last admission 12:30) and from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 18:30 (last admission 17:50). A full-price ticket costs €10 and the reduced ticket for young people aged 18 to 25 costs €2; admission is free for under-18s, on the first Sunday of every month, on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November. The Rocca has a lift; dogs are allowed inside only in a carrier, while in the village they can walk on a lead. There are several paid car parks around the village, including Piazzale Paolo e Francesca for campervans and coaches; about 50 metres from the castle is the private Parcheggio dei Cipressi. By car, leave the A14 motorway at the Cattolica exit and follow the signs for Gradara.
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: gradara.org · cultura.gov.it. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 36.7 km, about 50 minutes. At reception we can suggest the best route and the most convenient car parks, and on request we will make you a packed lunch.
Your space at the hotel stays reserved in our private car park, which is fenced and covered by CCTV. Other villages to combine on the same day are listed below.
06Nearby
- Gabicce Monte and Gabicce Mare
- Cattolica
- Pesaro
- Urbino
- San Leo
- Verucchio and its Rocca
- Montefiore Conca
- Mondaino and Montegridolfo
All the villages on one page: the hinterland and hilltop villages to visit. More ideas in things to do in Rimini.
07What our guests say
What our guests say about their trips into the hills.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Sea and hills
«great view from the balcony, towards the sea on one side and the hinterland on the other»
08FAQ
Did the story of Paolo and Francesca really happen in the Rocca di Gradara?
Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta were real people, but very little historical record survives. Literary tradition names Gradara as the possible setting of the tragedy, and inside the Rocca you can visit Francesca's Chamber, furnished in the 1920s and inspired by D’Annunzio's play.
When is admission to the Rocca di Gradara free?
Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month, on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November, and at any time for under-18s.
How far is Gradara from Hotel Viking?
36.7 km, about 50 minutes by car from Viserbella di Rimini.
How long do you need to visit Gradara?
Half a day is enough for the village centre and the main monument; add lunch at an osteria and another nearby village and it becomes a lovely full day out.
Where to stay to visit the hilltop villages of the Valmarecchia and Valconca?
At Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini: a 3-star hotel 100 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year round and handy for day trips into the inland hills.
Is autumn a good time to visit Gradara?
Yes: in autumn the hinterland has its food festivals, chestnuts and the colours of the hills; check the dates on the town council's website.
