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Medieval fortress of the Malatesta and Sforza families on the hill of Gradara, with furnished rooms, the Camera di Francesca and drawbridge; state museum.
September 19, 2026 – November 1, 2026
For the first time, the 78 original cards of Ardo Quaranta's artists' tarot are on display, reinterpreting the arcana through the figure of the witch as a symbol of freedom and awareness.
The oldest part of the Rocca di Gradara, the keep (Mastio), dates from the 12th century. In the 13th century the Malatesta took control of it and built a quadrangular fortress with corner towers, following the military typology of the 14th century. In 1463 Federico da Montefeltro took it from Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta; the papacy then granted it to Alessandro Sforza, lord of Pesaro. It became part of the Duchy of Urbino and, from 1631, was governed directly by the Church.
Between 1921 and 1923 the engineer Umberto Zanvettori, the last private owner, restored it completely, giving it the medieval and neomedieval appearance seen today. The complex was bought by the State in 1928, but the State only took possession in 1983, on the death of Alberta Porta Natale, Zanvettori’s wife.
A drawbridge leads to the honour courtyard (cortile d’onore), surrounded by a portico with elements recalling the Malatesta and the Sforza. The route includes three rooms on the ground floor (chapel, torture chamber and guardroom) and thirteen on the first floor, including the Sala del Mastio, the Sala di Sigismondo e Isotta, Lucrezia Borgia’s small room and the Camera di Francesca. The place is also linked to the story of Paolo and Francesca, made famous by Dante.
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3EU citizens aged 18 to 25 (non-EU citizens of the same age on condition of reciprocity) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under 18s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free admission for EU citizens with documented disabilities and their companion. |
| Groups | –Schools: free admission with reservation, within the quota set by the museum. |
| Combined ticket Rocca di Gradara + Palazzo Ducale di Urbino | €16Reduced €4 |
Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month
Free admission also for teachers in state schools, ICOM members, licensed EU tourist guides, EU journalists with a press card and other categories provided for by the admission regulations; reductions and free admission require a valid document. Combined ticket with the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, valid for five days. Online purchase via CoopCulture.
The Rocca has a lift. Facilitated access for people with disabilities is only possible from Via dei Cappuccini: ringing the gate, companions can drive to the small gate near the drawbridge and from there reach the lift. According to the notice published on the official website, from 10 October to 10 November restoration works on the drawbridge prevent access for people with motor disabilities.
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
The Rocca offers workshops and educational routes for schools and family initiatives, such as the event “Famiglie al Museo” (Families at the Museum), and themed days such as “Gradara Ludens”.
Piazzale Paolo e Francesca
Bus from Pesaro and Cattolica, stop Piazzale Paolo e Francesca (every hour on weekdays, every two hours on public holidays); in summer a little tourist train from Gabicce Mare and Cattolica.
There is no car park reserved for the Rocca. People with motor disabilities can be driven by car from Via dei Cappuccini to the small gate near the drawbridge.
Get directionsBookshop run under concession; free supervised cloakroom. The service charter states that there are no Wi-Fi areas, café or restaurant.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Booking recommended. Guided tours and exploration visits can be booked online through CoopCulture; for safety reasons access is limited by quota. The audio guide is paid. Educational routes for schools are available by reservation on opening days. |
