Gradara

The Malatesta held this castle from the thirteenth century and it kept two concentric walls, the outer nearly eight hundred metres round with a walkway open along part of it. Local tradition places the killing of Paolo and Francesca here, the couple Dante meets in the fifth canto of the Inferno, caught reading a romance together and murdered by Francesca's husband; the Inferno does not name the place, and Rimini and other Malatesta holdings also claim it, so the attribution is traditional rather than documented. The castle was restored in the 1920s by an engineer who also furnished it, and much of the interior reflects that work.

History

The castle was begun in the 12th century by Pietro and Ridolfo del Grifo; Malatesta da Verucchio later took the Grifo tower, which became the keep of the present castle. With its double ring of medieval walls it is one of the best preserved castles in Italy, and it is famous as the setting of Dante's episode of Paolo and Francesca (Wikipedia, Gradara).

What's there

• The double walls - two concentric circuits with a walkable outer rampart.
• The Paolo and Francesca room - the chamber tradition assigns to the story.
• The 1920s restoration - interiors furnished during the modern rebuild.
• The village - a small walled borgo below the keep.

When to go

April to October; the castle closes Mondays in some seasons. Medieval-themed events run in summer. The village is very small and busiest at weekends.

Things to know

The Dante connection is tradition, not evidence, and the interiors are largely a 1920s recreation. The village is heavily geared to visitors with many souvenir shops.

Nearby

Pesaro lies east; San Leo is inland.