Welcome to Gradara 365 - Estate

Welcome to Gradara 365: the village that tells its story all year round

Welcome to Gradara 365 is the project with which the Municipality of Gradara and the Pro Loco Gradara enliven the village in every season, with the motto "Gradara: new seductions every season". After the spring version, comes the summer iteration, Welcome to Gradara 365 - Estate, a series of evenings that make one of Italy's most fascinating villages even more vibrant, nestled in the hills of the province of Pesaro and Urbino, in the Marche region, a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast.

Paolo and Francesca: a story tinged with blue

The heart of the summer edition is the theatrical animated visit dedicated to Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta, the two unfortunate lovers immortalized by Dante in the fifth canto of the Inferno, whose passion is said to have been consummated within the walls of the Gradara Rocca. The show, titled "Paolo e Francesca: una storia tinta di blu" (Paolo and Francesca: a story tinged with blue), is narrated through the eyes of Ginestra, a dyer and wet nurse to young Paolo, and intertwines narration, dance, and verses from the Divine Comedy in an emotional journey.

Costumed actors bring to life the deception of the marriage, the forbidden love, Gianciotto's jealousy, and the fatal destiny of the two lovers, in an immersive experience lasting about 60 minutes.

When and where

• Dates: every Friday from June 26 to July 31, 2026
• Time: from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
• Location: Passeggiata degli Innamorati, Gradara
• Duration: approximately 60 minutes
• Language: Italian

The Passeggiata degli Innamorati is a panoramic loop of about 3 kilometers, simple and accessible, starting from the Rocca and returning to it, skirting the places dear to the two lovers: the ideal setting for an evening performance at sunset.

A village to experience at sunset

Visiting Gradara on a summer evening means discovering one of the best-preserved medieval historic centers in the Marche region, with the Malatesta Rocca dominating the village and illuminated streets inviting a stroll. Welcome to Gradara 365 - Estate is part of the Municipality of Gradara's rich summer calendar, featuring historical reenactments, markets, and shows, and represents an original and evocative way to enter the atmosphere of Paolo and Francesca's village.