"Love that exempts no one loved from loving in return,
He took me so strong pleasure,
which, as you can see, still does not abandon me.
Love led us to a death:
Caina waits for those who put us out for life. "
[Dante, Inferno, Canto V, 103-107]
Come back to gradara after years it was exciting: the last time I was a child, but the memory of this place has always been pleasant and full of magic. The town is located in the Marche hinterland, on the border with Romagna, a few kilometers from Cattolica and Gabicce.
The image from which you are greeted upon arrival is of a large and steep climb that leads up to the heart of the Castle: the fortress. After passing the tower at the entrance, where once there must have been the drawbridge, you find yourself immersed in the small village that develops between two perfectly preserved city walls. It is here that the "bailiff" every evening at sunset screamed "Who is inside is inside ... that is fora is fora!", From that moment no one could enter or leave the walls.
Along the walls there is a patrol path that can still be covered on foot and which is interrupted by 22 watchtowers: these were fundamental for the protection of the Keep, the highest and oldest construction of the fortress where the prince and his court.
After having followed the uphill road, you arrive at the walls that divide the village from the Rocca. At this point you are at the drawbridge that allows you to cross a moat once full of shards, stones and pieces of glass (no water and crocodiles in the Marche fortresses!) And which leads straight to the Cortile d'Onore.
The path through the rooms of the Rocca allows a sort of journey through time that touches the places where some historical figures of great importance such as Giovanni Sforza and Lucrezia Borgia lived, Sigismondo Malatesta and Isotta. However, there are two other names that one thinks of when talking about Gradara: the unfortunate Dante lovers Paolo and Francesca, who consume the passion within these walls that will then lead them to death.
The history of the Rocca and the Borgo can also be retraced in the historical museum where documents and objects are kept that tell the daily life of the Middle Ages and the stories of the most important characters who lived within these walls.
Here are the entrance ticket prices
Rocca ticket: 4 €
(reduced € 2 for children between 18 and 25 years old, teachers; free for minors, groups, university students with an artistic focus)
Walkways ticket: 2 €
(reduced € 1 for groups, students, children under 65, etc. and free for children up to 10 years)
Rock ticket + walkways: € 5
(reduced for children aged 18 to 24 for € 3)
Historical museum: € 4
(Free for children and groups and schools € 1,50)
During my visit I was also at Air Theater, a sort of zoo where only birds of prey are housed, used for falconry shows. I admit that this part has not thrilled me, I am not a great lover of the genre and seeing these animals so "sacrificed" and not free to fly ... left me a little bitterness in the mouth. Let's say that I don't think it is a fundamental part of visiting Gradara, where there are many other things that are much more interesting!
Unfortunately I was unable to participate in any event but I read many scheduled dates also for the end of August and the beginning of September: Thursday at the castle, Solstice at the castle, Middle Ages at the Table, In the castle of Paolo and Francesca and Between Rocca and Stars they are repeated regularly. weekly until September (I recommend you check the details of the dates on the website!); among others on September 15th what intrigues me most is “… we went out to see the stars” an evening dedicated to guided and commented observation of the sky.
A little final tip for those who visit Gradara with the little ones: look for al IAT point the guide "GRADARA, mini guide for mini tourists“: It was made by the pupils of the primary school in the town, it is bilingual and it will certainly be useful also for parents because it is full of useful and interesting information!
