Cesenatico is a charming port town on the Adriatic coast, home to approximately 26,000 residents. Located in the province of Forlì-Cesena within the Emilia-Romagna region, it sits about 30 kilometers south of Ravenna. The town is historically significant for its port canal, which was surveyed and designed by Leonardo da Vinci at the request of Cesare Borgia to fortify nearby Cesena. For frequent-flyer hotel travelers, Cesenatico offers a blend of Renaissance history and coastal relaxation. Its compact size makes it an easy base for exploring the surrounding area, while its well-preserved old town provides a picturesque setting for leisurely walks after a day of meetings or sightseeing. The town's unique heritage and strategic location make it a distinctive stop for those seeking both culture and seaside tranquility.
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Stay near the Porto Antico (Old Port). Designed by Leonardo da Vinci, this historic harbor features a unique fan-shaped layout and well-preserved architecture. It places you within walking distance of waterfront dining and shops, offering a convenient and atmospheric base for exploring the town's heritage.
The town is compact and highly walkable, especially around the historic center and port. For excursions to nearby cities like Ravenna, regional rail and road connections are available, making it easy to extend your itinerary for business or leisure purposes without needing extensive local transit planning.
Spring and summer offer the best weather for strolling along the Adriatic coast and enjoying the town's open-air atmosphere. These seasons allow travelers to fully appreciate the historic port and its surroundings, making it an ideal time for those combining business with cultural exploration.
maritime museum with a floating pavilion in Cesenatico, FC, Italy
A new adventure for skilful chef Agostino Iacobucci (his original restaurant of the same name is in Castel Maggiore), housed within a villa that food-enthusiasts will remember as the former home of the two-Michelin-star Magnolia. In this elegant and welcoming setting, resident chef Marco Garattoni demonstrates the precise culinary techniques acquired during his many years working in top-quality restaurants. His dishes are contemporary, always colourful, beautifully presented, pleasing and attractive, even mouthwatering at times, and mostly based on fish, with the addition of a few vegetarian a
WebsiteChoose a table on the outdoor summer terrace (right over the water!) at this restaurant in order to best appreciate its location overlooking the picturesque canal port and its period houses. The indoor dining room is also attractive, with its open-view kitchen and modern and elegant feel, while the menu focuses almost exclusively on fish, often served with vegetables, some of which are organic. Enjoy a wide selection of raw antipasti to start (some simple in their preparation, while others are more elaborate), then choose from an array of beautifully presented, modern dishes, such as stuffed m
WebsiteThe sister restaurant of the Bologna and Milano Marittima restaurants of the same name, this osteria serves fresh fish with an excellent choice of delicious and generously portioned dishes. As the restaurant doesn’t take bookings, make sure you get here early in high season or during busy periods.
WebsiteAlberto Faccani, the chef at the Magnolia restaurant in the hills inland from Cesenatico, oversees the cuisine at this restaurant, which occupies an elegant veranda on the town’s main avenue – a busy promenade in summer. Fish takes centre stage here, in unfussy dishes that faithfully reflect the maritime traditions of the Adriatic. The menu, alongside daily specials announced at your table, features dishes that include raw fish and seafood, gratins, seafood salads, pasta and risotto, while the main courses feature a selection of grilled, baked and fried fish.
WebsiteJust steps from the Leonardo-designed canal harbor, this spot takes a bold stance: it serves only meat, with a strong focus on the grill. Quality ingredients, fresh pastas, and classic house-made spoon desserts. An excellent wine list, especially strong on reds, rounds out the offering. The dining room is bright and all white; the cool, tranquil outdoor terrace is very welcoming, ideal in the warmer months. At the helm is a young couple driven by passion and professionalism.
WebsiteAn unexpected gourmet restaurant in a typical private beach club on the Romagna coast, with a dining room that opens on to the beach with its long line of beach umbrellas. The dishes here are carefully prepared and occasionally creative, and all of good quality. We particularly recommend the monfettini (fresh egg pasta) mantecati with cuttlefish, clams, mantis shrimp and ink, which looks like a risotto and is absolutely delicious. The restaurant also boasts a good wine list with an excellent choice of champagnes.
WebsiteAlmost appearing to rise up directly out of the sand, this unexpectedly elegant restaurant is home to a simple yet stylish dining room with large windows overlooking the sea. Fresh fish of the highest quality takes pride of place on the menu, served in classic, traditional dishes from the Adriatic. Daily specials fresh from the market feature alongside the à la carte, such as the excellent porcini mushrooms we enjoyed on our last visit here, which were served with passatelli pasta, shrimp and scallops. Although individuals may change, an enthusiastic and professional approach is typical of the
WebsiteBakery
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