The summer evenings of the village of Paolo and Francesca, every Friday under the walls of the Fortress
Welcome to Gradara 365 is the project with which the Municipality of Gradara and the Pro Loco Gradara liven up 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 - Summer, a series of evenings that make one of Italy's most fascinating villages even more vibrant, nestled among the hills of the province of Pesaro and Urbino, in the Marche region, a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast.
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 unfolded within the walls of the Gradara Fortress. The show, titled "Paolo and Francesca: a story tinged with blue", is narrated through the eyes of Ginestra, Paolo's former nurse and dyer, and intertwines narration, dance, and verses from the Divine Comedy in an emotional journey.
The 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.
The Passeggiata degli Innamorati is a panoramic loop of about 3 kilometers, simple and accessible, which starts from the Fortress and returns to it, skirting the places dear to the two lovers: the ideal setting for an evening performance 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 Fortress dominating the village and illuminated streets inviting a stroll. Welcome to Gradara 365 - Summer is part of Gradara's rich summer calendar, featuring historical re-enactments, markets, and shows, and represents an original and evocative way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Paolo and Francesca's village.
For summer 2026, Welcome to Gradara 365 focuses on the show "Paolo and Francesca: a story tinged with blue", performed every Friday from June 26 to July 31, 2026, from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, along the Passeggiata degli Innamorati.
The narration is entrusted to Ginestra, dyer and nurse of young Paolo Malatesta, who guides the audience through the deception of the marriage, the forbidden love with Francesca da Polenta, Gianciotto's jealousy, and the fatal epilogue. The show lasts about 60 minutes, is in Italian, and is promoted by Pro Loco Gradara in the Municipality of Gradara (Marche).
Theatrical animated visit "Paolo and Francesca: a story tinged with blue", every Friday from June 26 to July 31, 2026, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Passeggiata degli Innamorati. Narration, dance, and verses from the Divine Comedy with costumed actors. Duration approx. 60 minutes, in Italian.
By car: A14 motorway, exit Cattolica-Gabicce Mare, then a few minutes inland to Gradara (PU). By train: Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce station, then bus or taxi. Nearest airport: Federico Fellini in Rimini.
Show every Friday from June 26 to July 31, 2026, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM, at the Passeggiata degli Innamorati. For information and reservations: Pro Loco Gradara, tel. +39 0541 964115 / +39 340 1436396, [email protected], or via the portal gradara.org/prenota-gradara.
Wear comfortable shoes for the loop walk around the village and arrive early to enjoy the sunset over the Marche hills.
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Passeggiata degli Innamorati