01Gradara at a glance
A trip inland from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini. Gradara is a walled village whose Rocca, or fortress, is tied to the legend of Paolo and Francesca. It lies just over the border in the Marche, close to Cattolica.
It's 36.7 km from the hotel, about 50 minutes by car, so you can make it a half day or a full day and still be back by the sea in time for our Romagna cooking. For food festivals and local events at the time of your stay, see our 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; 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, a strategic spot with views down to the coast.
- The oldest part of the Rocca dates from the 12th century and survives in the massive Torre del Mastio (the keep). Inside there's still a large water cistern, which kept the soldiers going through long sieges.
- In the 13th and 14th centuries Gradara came under the Malatesta family, lords of Verucchio and later of Rimini. In 1463 Federico di Montefeltro captured the Rocca and handed it to the Sforza family of Pesaro.
- In 1494 Giovanni Sforza had work done on the Rocca, recorded in an inscription on the drawbridge, probably to get it ready for his young bride, Lucrezia Borgia. You can still visit Lucrezia Borgia's little room in the north-east tower.
- The village sits inside two rings of walls. The "rocca" is the oldest and highest part, while the "castello" is the whole village within the walls. You can also walk along the battlements.
- According to legend, Gradara is where the tragedy of Paolo and Francesca took place, the story Dante tells in Canto V of the Inferno. Francesca da Polenta, wife of Gianciotto Malatesta, and her brother-in-law Paolo are said to have been caught together and killed in September 1289. They were real people, but many details of the story come from literature rather than history.
03What to see
Francesca's Room was furnished in the 1920s by the engineer Umberto Zanvettori, taking his cue from D’Annunzio's play. You'll see the lectern with the book that led the lovers astray, and the trapdoor through which, so the story goes, Paolo tried to escape.
The rooms look the way they do today thanks to Umberto Zanvettori's restoration of 1921 to 1923, which also rebuilt the outside after the 1916 earthquake. In 1928 the Rocca was sold to the Italian State.
Among the works on show in the Rocca are 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), has the Touring Club Italiano's Orange Flag and was voted Borgo dei Borghi (Italy's favourite village) in 2018.
Events through the year include 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
You can wander round the village for free. The Rocca is a state museum: from 1 October 2026 it opens on Mondays from 9:30 to 13:15 (last entry 12:30) and Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 18:30 (last entry 17:50). Tickets cost €10, or €2 for 18 to 25-year-olds. Entry is free for under-18s, on the first Sunday of every month, and on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November. The Rocca has a lift. Dogs can only go inside in a carrier, but they're welcome on a lead around the village. There are several pay car parks around the village, including Piazzale Paolo e Francesca for campervans and coaches, and the private Parcheggio dei Cipressi is about 50 metres from the castle. By car, leave the A14 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'll suggest the best route and the easiest places to park, and we can make you a packed lunch if you ask.
Your space back at the hotel stays free in our private car park, which is fenced and has CCTV. You'll find other villages to see on the same day 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: villages to visit in the hills. For more ideas, see 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 is known about them for certain. Writers have long placed the tragedy at Gradara, and inside the Rocca you can see Francesca's Room, furnished in the 1920s after D’Annunzio's play.
When is entry to the Rocca di Gradara free?
Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November, and always for under-18s.
How far is Gradara from Hotel Viking?
36.7 km, about 50 minutes by car from Viserbella di Rimini.
How much time do I need for Gradara?
Half a day covers the village and the castle. Add lunch at an osteria and another village nearby and you have a good full day out.
Where should I stay to visit the villages of the Valmarecchia and Valconca?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini is a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year and well placed for trips inland.
Is autumn a good time to visit Gradara?
Yes. Autumn brings food festivals, chestnuts and the colours of the changing hills. Check the dates on the town council's website.
