Cesenatico. The origins of the historic centre date back to the Middle Ages, more precisely to 1302, year in which the city of Cesena, wanting to have a place by the sea for its commerce, began to dig the canal harbour and built a fortess to defend it.
This proved to be a necessary precaution because, during the two successive centuries, the port, which had a strategic importance both from commercial and military point of view, was the cause of frequent fights between lords.
As a consequence, it was buried and destroyed many times. The harbour of Cesenatico was ruled by Cesena during the Malatesta age; during the short parenthesis of “Duca Valentino” Cesare Borgia’s domination, the port was the object of Leonardo da Vinci’s attention. During the XIX century fishing became the main activity, also thanks to some families from Chioggia, who came to live in Cesenatico with their typical fishing boats, called bragozzi.
Leonardesque Port Canal. The port canal, dug at the beginning of the XIV century, has underwent many interventions by hydraulic engineers, among which Leonardo da Vinci, who accurately analysed it and also made a drawing in 1502 on command of Cesare Borgia, who wanted to enhance and fortify it. Around the Port Canal, the town of Cesenatico developed with the fishermen’s houses and the storehouses for goods. In the heart of Cesenatico’s historic center, the Leonardesque Port Canal is like a living museum with many things to see and a firm, qualified offer by cultural associations situated on its quay: The Seafaring Museum, Casa Moretti and the Communal Antiquarium. Recently, near to sea stretch, the Porte Vinciane were installed, a modern construction based on the model drawn by Leonardo, defendig the town from the sometimes stormy sea.
Giuseppe Garibaldi. On the 2nd of August 1849, Garibaldi embarked towards besieged Venice from Cesenatico, together with his wife Anita and other compatriots. This event became afterwards a sort of “founding legend” for the city’s new identity, after the unification of Italy. The piazza Pisacane is dedicated to Garibaldi with his monument.
Seafaring Museum. It has its seat in the most ancient and characteristic part of the harbour and is unique in Italy. Here 10 traditional boats from the upper and medium Adriatic Sea are exposed. They have been restored and re-armed according to their original function, with their coloured lug sails, decorated with the symbols of the fishers families, and with the characteristic “eyes” on the prow, which according to popular beliefs, had an important propitiatory function.
Communal Antiquarium
Adjacent to the Seafaring Museum you will find the Communal Antiquarium where statues, terracotta fragments, pottery (lamps, vases, plates), weights and coins dating back to the Roman Age are kept. A room is dedicated to the Fortness and to the Praetorial Tower, two fortifications, which were erected to protect the harbour, now completely destroyed.
Piazzetta delle Conserve. The “Conserve” or Ice Houses are trunkconic shaped wells, which are about 6 meters deep and have an about 8-metre entrance. These wells, filled with ice or snow, had the function of preserving fish and foodstuffs.
Casa Moretti. The house in which the famous writer and poet Marino Moretti was born is now a museum-house where original furniture of period, books an manuscripts are kept.
Marco Pantani. The exhibitionhall 'Spazio Pantani' is born out of the legacy of the familiy Pantani, the Comune of Cesenatico and the Marco Pantani Foundation in order to keep the memory of the great champion Marco Pantani alive and to honour the goals he achieved during his life. At the exhibition, you can relive the entire career of the “Pirata” by means of photo's, trophies and audiovisuals.
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