My Autumn Adventure: Gems of The Italian Adriatic Coast

Gradara and Urbino

Beautiful Medieval Buildings

Looking up at The Castle

Gradara Consists of a Tiny Walled Medieval Town built around an Imposing Castle. This was my first

Port of Call in Italy. Around 5 Kilometers from the Adriatic Sea it is Close to the rather Naff resort of Rimini (Similar to Blackpool in England!!) The first Train I took in Italy after my Overnight Journey by French Sleeper Train Promptly Broke Down!! This delay caused my Train Schedules to become useless.The result being that I arrived in Catholica (The nearest Rail Stop) too Late to catch the Bus and was duly Ripped Off by a Local Taxi Driver who seemed to blame me as he could not find the Villa where I was Staying.

Gradara looking toward the Town Gate at Twilight

While planning my "Autumn Adventure" I found Gradara Online and thought it would be a Great Place to spend a few Days, I pictured myself cycling around the Pastoral Italian Countryside.I did hire a Bicycle for a Couple of Days The Countryside however is extremely Hilly the result that I spent more time pushing the Bike than Riding it!! One Day I cycled to Rimini as the Road going there was flatter than all the roads in other directions. I knew Rimini by reputation only and it certainly lived down to my expectations, no quaint winding Streets and Renaissance Architecture here!!

I stayed four Nights in the B&B Al Castello a perfectly adequate Room with Private Bath in a Villa Close to the Castle. I was the only Guest staying here and I was given a Voucher for Breakfast in an attractive Cafe/Restaurant just inside the Town Walls.At 50Euros a Night All Castello was far too expensive and in no way worth the Money. Gradara being so Tiny a Morning or Afternoon spent here would give One sufficient time to see all that was worth seeing.

The Best thing about my stay in Gradara were the few Hours I managed to spend in the Truly Beautiful Medieval Town of Urbino.About Three and a Half Hours on Two Buses Urbino is where I SHOULD have Spent my Four Nights, it is Magnificent. Urbino is not Large and it's narrow Steep Medieval Streets are a Joy to Explore. There is so much to see here and as my stay was to be all to short I contented myself with a Casual exploration of the Town and a delicious Lunch at I think it was called Ristorante Da Franco on Via Del Poggio(Just up the Hill from the Ducal Palace) Great Traditional No Frills Italian Food and Wine, Perfect.