A SUMMER DAY IN GATTEO MARE AND GATTEO

A child-friendly day: this 24-hour itinerary is dedicated to families that wish to enjoy a day of absolute relaxation and discover a little ‘gem’ of Romagna.

Itinerary: Gatteo – Gatteo Mare (approx. 10 km)

Modality of execution: the route can be covered by car and the visit takes at least one day.

Itinerary details: from Gatteo take the road Via Rigossa Destra/SP108 to Gatteo Mare

First stop: the village of Gatteo
The itinerary starts from the small and charming village of Gatteo, a few kilometres away from Gatteo Mare. The visit will delight everyone, especially children, who are typically fascinated by the magical world of fortresses. In fact, the first stop is the Malatesta castle, the only one still standing in the plain north of Rimini. It can be reached by means of a stone bridge (which has replaced the drawbridge).
Two bastions, the entrance tower and part of the walls are the remains of the castle, on which, thanks to careful restoration, it is possible to take a walk (the path is accessible on special occasions only).

Just opposite the castle is the Parish Church of San Lorenzo Martire, which houses paintings by local painter Don Stefano Montanari (18th century). Not far away, stands the Oratory of San Rocco, a true treasure of religious architecture, where the interior is decorated with votive frescoes dating back to the end of the 15th century, recalling the plagues experienced at various times (the frescoes are visible during guided tours or openings for events).

Continuing in the same direction, on Via Roma, is the Caprera Lion cippus, dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi, who also passed through Gatteo during his missions.
Turning back along Via Garibaldi, you first come to Piazza Vesi, the heart of the town and subject of a recent renovation and urban furniture project, and then the bell tower of Sant’Antonio Abate, what remains of one of the oldest churches in the town (1467) after the bombings of 1944.

After so much walking, a hearty Romagna lunch is well deserved. During the summer, fish dishes, especially fried fish, are the protagonists of the table, accompanied by the ever-present piadina and local wines such as Trebbiano and Sangiovese.
Lovers of pasta, on the other hand, will find the ‘azdore’ (pasta makers) of restaurants, kiosks and hotels always ready to churn out lasagne, strozzapreti, cappelletti with broth or passatelli, also delicious in the dry version. We recommend, to round off your lunch, a taste of a simple but very sweet cantarella.

Second stop: the beach of Gatteo Mare
Relaxation and the beach, as we know, are a perfect combination. The fine sandy beach of Gatteo Mare (753 linear metres of real comfort) is ideal for children, who can play safely on the shoreline, while their parents can bask in the sun. Thanks to the reefs, the sea is shallow and allows you to swim as if you were in a large pool.
A tireless entertainment team working daily in the thirty well-equipped bathing establishments offers thousands of free opportunities for exercise together: from aqua aerobics to gymnastics on the seashore, from the mini-club to creative workshops, and even the highly original baby-rescue courses. There are endless opportunities for adults and children to enjoy their free time on the beach!

Third stop: Gatteo Mare
After a light dinner, maybe a simple piadina or cassone, a walk through the streets of the town, which are all off limits to cars in the evening, is ideal!

The small centre of Gatteo Mare is ideal to be explored on foot or by bicycle in complete safety, thanks to the pedestrian paths along the main streets, but it is also possible to get on a nice little tourist train.

The promenade starts at the mouth of the famous Rubicon River, which Julius Caesar crossed when he uttered the famous phrase “Alea Iacta Est”. A bronze bust of Julius Caesar by sculptor Manuela Fanelli stands on the bridge crossing the river. Here it is a must for children to rub the emperor’s nose: it is said to bring good luck!

Continue through the Giardini Don Guanella, an ideal place to relax in the greenery just a stone’s throw from the sea. It is impossible not to stop with the children to take a ride on the ferris wheel or the brucomela ride, or to participate in the group dances organized by the Gatteo Mare Summer Village.

The walk continues along the seafront promenade, Viale Giulio Cesare, and then onto Viale delle Nazioni, the town’s main avenue, where you can stroll between a stop at an ice-cream parlour and a peek at the shop windows.

It is impossible not to stop and read the lit-up signs with the verses of ‘Romagna Mia’ and ‘Romagna Capitale’ shining along these two avenues. Speaking of, another obligatory stop is in Via I Maggio, where you can admire the house where Secondo Casadei composed ‘Romagna Mia’. On the wall of the house you can find the text, for the few who do not remember it by heart.

We recommend you to end the evening with one of the shows of the rich summer calendar by the Gatteo Mare Summer Village: every evening there are shows for children, music and fun for everyone in the Arena  in the central Piazza della Libertà.