Cesenatico is a fairly sized town on the Adriatic Coast. Founded around its pier on 1302, as a sea access of the city of Cesena, at the beginning of 1500 Valentino Borgia hired Leonardo da Vinci to design Cesenatico's port. Cesenatico has been under Cesena governance till the beginning of the 18th Century, when the Pope conceded Cesenatico its independence. At that time, the whole greater Romagna area was included in the Papal State. Cesenatico really flourished once it discovered its tourist disposition: at the beginning of the 20th Century, it was already a well-know vacation resort, but it really boomed only in the aftermath of World War II, and the economical boom, when its sandy beaches became affordable for a large part of the Italian population for summer vacation. The Romagna area is still nowadays famous for its cheap accommodations and excellent food, often provided in "Full Board" accommodations at local hotels and inns. It is a very popular destination for families with young children, due to its various miles of sandy beaches with very shallow water, and for club-goers, who tend to dance the night away in one (or more) of the many discotheques of the coastal area.
Cesenatico is today a fairly large community of over 20,000 people, whose economy revolves for the larger part on summer tourism. Its beautiful Leonardo's Port is decorated by shops and gelaterie, and one portion of the channel is closed off and dedicated to the Floating Museum of Marine History, where ancient fishing boats used locally are on display. As you admire the beautiful sails, you might want to know they're all painted with natural coloring available in the past century, and each sails represent a fishing family of the area, so that the boats could be recognized at great distance. The Lungomare is a popular spots for aperitivi and evening walks, as well as the vital center of the town during weekends year-round. Bars and cafe and restaurants and pizzerie are scattered along the 3 km stretch of road it covers.
The central skyscraper (?) is a real sore in the eye, for both local people and tourists. Built in the fifties, when a "signature building" was the trademark to distinguish one tourist town from the other, this concrete, 30-floor structure is as misplaced as a street bum at a dinner gala. Under a constant renovation process that makes it look in even worse shape than it is, all wish that it might quietly collapse one of this days and deliver us from its ugliness.
Hundreds of hotel will be able to accommodate the summer visitors, at very competitive prices, but expect fairly frugal accommodations. During the winter months, though, you'll find a pretty sleepy town with an apparent lack of things to do. Look twice, though: Romagna is very generous with its populations, providing endless entertaining options at every time of the year! Best time to visit are probably May, June and September, although during the Holiday Season a gorgeous nativity scene is on display on the boats of the Floating Museum. don't miss the many pretty surrounding towns and castles. Cesenatico is only a short drive to medieval beauties like Gradara, San Marino, Santarcangelo, Monte Bello, Montiano, Longiano, Torriana and so on. You won't regret a visit to the heart of Romagna!!
