A child-friendly day for families: a 24-hour itinerary dedicated to families to enjoy a day of absolute relaxation and discover a little “gem” of Romagna.
The itinerary starts from the small but charming village of Gatteo, a few kilometers from Gatteo Mare. Visiting it will make everyone happy, especially children always fascinated by the magical world of the fortresses. The first stop is in fact the castello Malatestiano, the only one in the plain north of Rimini left standing, which is accessible thanks to a stone bridge (which replaced the drawbridge). Two ramparts remain of the castle, the tower entrance and part of the walls, on which it is possible to take a walk, thanks to a careful restoration (only on special occasions).
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, whose 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, take pride of place on the table, accompanied by the ever-present piadina and local wines such as Trebbiano and Sangiovese.
Lovers of first courses, on the other hand, will find the azdore (pasta makers) of restaurants, kiosks and hotels always ready to churn out lasagne, strozzapreti, cappelletti in 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.
Relaxation and beach, you know, are a perfect match. The fine sandy beach of Gatteo Mare (753 linear meters of real comfort) is ideal for children to play safely on the shore, while 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 free of charge a thousand opportunities to exercise and have fun together: from water aerobics to gymnastics by the sea, from the miniclub to the creative workshops up to the very original baby rescue course; there are many opportunities offered to all to spend pleasant leisure time on the beach.
After a light dinner, maybe a simple piadina, a walk through the streets of the town, which in the evening are all off limits to cars, is ideal!
The small town of Gatteo Mare is ideal to be explored on foot or by bike safely, thanks to pedestrian routes along the main streets, but you can also use a nice street train. The walk starts from the mouth of the famous Rubicone river which Julius Caesar crossed saying the famous words “Alea Iacta Est”.
On the bridge that crosses the river stands the bronze bust of Julius Caesar made by the sculptress Manuela Fanelli. Here it is a must 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 a few steps from the sea. It is impossible not to stop with children to take a ride on the Ferris wheel or ‘bruco mela’ mini rollercoaster or to take part in the baby dance organized by the Gatteo Mare Summer Village.
The walk continues on the seafront, Viale Giulio Cesare, and then on Viale delle Nazioni, the main avenue of the village, perfect for a refreshing evening walk between a stop at the ice cream shop and a peek at the windows.
Here, it is impossible not to stop and read the stanzas of ‘Romagna Capitale’ and ‘Romagna Mia’ which shine brightly along the two avenues. Then, stop in via I Maggio, where you can admire the house where Secondo Casadei composed Romagna Mia. On the wall of the house is the text, for the few who do not remember it by heart.
We recommend you end the evening with one of the shows of the rich summer calendar by the Gatteo Mare Summer Village: every evening shows for children and music and fun for everyone in the arena Piazza della Libertà.
