Seaside Holiday Centre
Cesenatico started as a port on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Located about 30 km south of Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna, Cesenatico was the port of Cesena. The original port plan was created by Leonardo da Vinci - but not implemented until much later. It was also briefly the home of Scottish claimant to the British crown - James Stuart; the father of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Now it is a holiday centre.
It has been popular with cyclists for many years - and the famous Gran Fondo has been going since 1971.
But one of the area’s famous sons, Marco Pantani (born 13-Jan-1970 at Cesena) has made the region something of a place of remembrance for cyclists who admired the gifted mountain climber.
So the two main cycling events for 2008 are -
- 7th MTB Nove Colli Off Road 9-12 May
- 38th Nove Colli Gran Fondo 15-19 May
Cycling holiday companies in the UK and USA are again providing organised trips to the Gran Fondo. But the independent traveller will easily find plenty of hotels with web sites - and low-cost flights to Forli or Rimini.
Some hotels - such as the Hotel Caesar - even provide specific cycling facilities and route plans. Even though you need to book early if you want to stay at peak times. And since over 10,000 riders are predicted for the Nove Colli this year early May will be busy.
If suitable hotel rooms are not available in Cesenatico then it would be worth looking along the coast to the south in Gatteo a Mare, Bellaria, Igea Marina or the much larger towns of Rimini and Riccione.
The coastal strip may be pan-flat but both of the Nove Colli routes have plenty to occupy the climbers.
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