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GRADARA
On the
border Between Marches and Romagna
and 13 Km far from Pesaro
there's Gradara, splendid medieval village
perfectly conserved and dominated by its beautifulst Rocca.
Its history was born in the Middle Ages around year 1150
when the nobles Pietro and Ridolfo De Grifo
stole the land to Pesaro
and began to build the central mastio (main and central
part of the castle). Lost the protection of the Pope the De
Grifo was replaced with the powerful Malatesta
family, nobles of Rimini and Cesena, in the person of Malatesta
da Verucchio said the Centenario. This family decided to enlarge
the Rocca and to build the Castle with its present aspect.
In 1463, Pope Pio II excommunicated Sigismondo
Pandolfo Malatesta and recruited the duke of Urbino Federico
da Montefeltro who besieged the village and gave
it back to the Roman Church which passed it under the powerful
of Sforza family. To this followed all the
powerful families of the XVI century: Della Rovere,
Borgia, Medici.
The strategic fortress of Gradara returned then to the church
in 1641 until its unification to the Reign
of Italy.
Gradara is medieval village of rare and intact beauty. The
visit to the village and to the Castello Malatestiano
are important stages for the knowledge of the regional
territory. To be visited beyond the Rocca, the Church
of Saint Giovanni (XIV sec.) with a beautiful wooden
crucifix, the Historical Museum, and the Olive Trees
Garden. Do not forgot to visit the rounds
walkway of the town-walls (XIV century), from where
it's possible to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view.
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GRADARA
Art City
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HISTORIC COMMEMORATION |
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PAOLO AND FRANCESCA |
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