Unmissable Excursions: CESENATICO
Combining the charm of the seaside resort and the tradition of the little fishing port, CESENATICO is an ideal destination for people of all age groups. Here you can meet lots of famous personalities – of show business, sport, culture and politics – walking along the promenade of the Porto Canale (‘Canal Harbour’) or along the Giardini del Mare (‘Sea Gardens’), or confortably sitting at a café or on the shore...
THE PORTO CANALE DESIGNED BY LEONARDO DA VINCI
In 1501, when Cesare Borgia had conquered the whole of Romagna, he decided to modernize the strategic fortifications in order to defend the new duchy against his enemies; therefore he asked Leonardo da Vinci to design the new port in Cesenatico, the most important one in the whole duchy.
The MARINE MUSEUM
Situated in the oldest part of the Porto Canale, is formed by a ‘land’ section and a ‘floating section’. The ‘land’ section offers a recontruction of the traditional marine of the high and middle Adriatic sea. The ‘floating section’ displays 10 traditional boats: during the summer these boats are equipped with the traditional multi-coloured trapezoidal sails, whereas during the winter they house the famous ‘floating nativity scene’. Inside the museum you can find a “trabaccolo” and a “bragozzo”, two typical boats of the Adriatic marine.
The FISH MARKET
In Cesenatico was built in 1950 and restored in 1995. Its stories and traditions represent the culture and identity of Cesenatico. Past and present are passed on to the new generations in order to grant a sense of continuity with the future. The Fish Market is open to the public: here you can listen to the continuous chattering when the fish is being unloaded and you can take part in the auction which every afternoon livens up the port. The Fish Market isn’t only an open-air museum, but it also represents an important resource and investment for the town of Cesenatico.
The PIAZZA DELLE CONSERVE (‘square of preserved food’)
Just a few metres away from the porto canale, features low buildings with thick walls housing some cone-shaped shafts which
sink into the ground. Their depth is approximately 6 metres and the upper diameter is about 8 metres; these shafts were covered with bricks or with straw and sand, and were used to preserve fish and foodstuffs with layers of ice and snow.
MARINO MORETTI’S HOUSE
verlooks the west bank of the Porto Canale. The building, where the poet and novelist Marino Moretti (1885 – 1979) used to live, was donated to the Municipality in order to keep the poet’s library and archives in the original location. Moretti’s House still retains its original furniture and represents a privileged way to get to know this post-naturalist writer and poet belonging to the ‘crepuscolari’ literary current.
MUNICIPAL THEATRE
The theatre in Cesenatico resumed its activities in 1992, when the restoration works of the Municipal Theatre ended, and the open-air theatre in Largo Cappuccini was built. Since then famous actors and companies have staged in Cesenatico, offering successful performances and national previews. On 16th April 2004 the new curtain, resembling the original one made by Pompeo Randi in 1865, was put up.
ST. JAMES’S CHURCH
The first news about a ‘rector of St. James and Cristopher in the port of Cesenatico’ dates back to 1440. As far as we know the church was lying in terrible condition in the middle of the eighteenth century; the restoration works started in 1763 and ended in 1765.
They say the sacristy houses a painting of St. Anthony by a very good painter known as the ‘Cagnazzo'. Critics currently think that the attribution of this work to Guido Cagnacci is hardly verifiable as the painting is ‘practically destroyed’. Another painting has been attributed to Cagnacci: it’s the ‘St. Joseph’, which once stood in the homonymous church of the hospital and was transferred to St. James’s after the original church had been closed.
The MARCO PANTANI SPACE
Is situated on an area of more than 300sqmt and was conceived by the Pantani family, the District of Cesenatico and the Marco Pantani Foudation to keep alive the memory of this great champion of Romagna and celebrate his successes. .
SKYSCRAPER
For more than 40 years the SKYSCRAPER has watched over the sea and its inhabitants, becoming the main symbol of the town and of the whole coastline. For several years it was the highest skyscraper in Europe, and it is still the highest ferroconcrete building in Italy. At night it cheers up the people walking along the promenade with its numerous white lights. It is one of the most photographed buildings in the town; it is more than 115mt high and is composed of 35 floors, although only 30 can be used.
