Day trip

Gradara from Pesaro: the castle of Paolo and Francesca, the village and the walls walk

Updated 2 November 2026. Half an hour from Pesaro stands one of Italy's best-known castles, inside a walled village you can explore on foot in a few hours: how to get there by car or bus, where to leave the car, what to see in the castle and on the ramparts.

Why Gradara

Gradara is a small village on the first hill behind Gabicce and Cattolica, enclosed by two rings of walls and crowned by a castle with crenellated towers that you can spot from far away, even from the motorway. Its fame comes from Dante: tradition places here the story of Paolo and Francesca, the lovers of the fifth canto of the Inferno, killed by her husband Gianciotto Malatesta. True or not, the legend has made the castle a place to see, and the village around it, with its workshops and brick houses, completes the trip. It is an easy outing even if you are short of time: half a day is enough.

How to get there from Pesaro

By car. From Pesaro head north towards Gabicce and Cattolica, then follow the signs up to Gradara: roughly 20-30 minutes, depending on whether you take the A14 motorway (exit Cattolica-San Giovanni), the SS16 coastal road or the inland roads. The route depends on traffic and season, so check your sat nav before leaving.

By bus. Gradara is served by Adriabus routes 130 and 131, the intercity lines linking Pesaro with Gabicce, Cattolica and Gradara. Services are not very frequent, differ between winter and summer and are reduced on Sundays and holidays: before you go, check the current timetable on adriabus.eu and see where the bus stops, as some runs stop below the village and others in town. To reach the bus stop or the station from central Pesaro, read getting around Pesaro without a car.

By train. The nearest station is Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce, one stop from Pesaro on the Adriatic line; from there you need a bus or a taxi, as the village sits on a hill a few kilometres from the sea.

Parking and the walk up to the village

Cars are not allowed inside the walls. The most convenient car park is Piazzale Paolo e Francesca (P1), paid, right below the ramparts: from there Via della Rocca, a pedestrian, paved and uphill street, leads in a few minutes to the village gate and the castle's drawbridge. You will feel the slope, but the distance is short. On spring weekends and in summer the car park fills up: arriving early in the morning you will find a space and visit with fewer people. Rates and other car parks may change: check the signs on site.

The castle (Rocca di Gradara)

The Rocca is a state museum, run by the regional directorate of national museums of the Marche. The visit takes you through the courtyard and the rooms of the castle, furnished in the early 20th century when the complex was restored, with the chapel, the reception halls and the chamber that tradition identifies as Francesca's, where the legend sets the kiss and the killing of the two lovers. From the windows and the inner walkways you look over the village, the hills and the sea. Allow a good hour for an unhurried visit.

Hours, tickets and closing days change during the year: always check them on roccadigradara.org or cultura.gov.it before setting off. In Italian state museums under-18s usually enter free, but this is something to verify case by case.

The walls walk

The second thing to do in Gradara is to climb up to the walls walk (camminamenti di ronda), the path running along the top of the outer ring of walls, from tower to tower, with the village on one side and the countryside and the sea on the other. It is the most photographed stroll in town and children love it. The walls walk has a separate ticket from the castle, and at certain times of year a combined ticket for both visits is offered: again, check hours, prices and availability on the official websites and on site. In strong wind or rain the walk may be closed.

The village

The village takes about half an hour to explore: the main street climbs from the gate to the castle between craft shops, wine bars and small restaurants, with side lanes leading to the walls. The church of San Giovanni Battista houses a much-venerated wooden crucifix. At certain times of year the town hosts historical re-enactments and, in December, Christmas markets and decorations that draw big crowds: if you prefer quiet, choose a weekday.

A half-day plan

• Morning: park at Piazzale Paolo e Francesca, walk up Via della Rocca, visit the castle at opening time.
• Late morning: the walls walk, then a stroll through the village.
• Lunch: in one of the village restaurants, or back down on the coast.
• Afternoon: return to Pesaro via Gabicce Monte and the San Bartolo Panoramic Road, for a scenic drive home.

Practical tips

• Comfortable shoes: Via della Rocca is steep and paved with stone, and the walls walk has steps.
• Strollers: fine in the village, not on the walls; with small children bring a baby carrier.
• Booking: on weekends and long holiday weekends the castle may limit entries; check the official website to see whether booking is advisable.
• Wind: it blows harder up on the hill than in Pesaro, especially on the ramparts. An extra layer helps, even in spring.

Starting from Cortirola

Cortirola Luxury Apartment is at Via Cortirola 8, in the historic centre of Pesaro, with a private garage: in the morning you drive north and in half an hour you are below the castle, and on your return you park at home. Gradara fits well into a stay of several days together with Urbino, inland, and the city's beaches.

Read also: Cortirola Luxury Apartment · San Bartolo Panoramic Road · Urbino day trip from Pesaro · All guides