The Port Channel of Cesenatico is the ancient heart of the city.
Invited by Cesare Borgia in Romagna to verify and strengthen the fortifications and strategic infrastructure in the territories of the Duchy, Leonardo da Vinci, in 1502, was invited to suggest improvements to the existing harbor, from the first half of the fourteenth century. Coveted and contended, the Port Channel of Cesenatico was of primary importance, so near as it is to Cesena, the city chosen by the Borgias as the capital of the Duchy. Leonardo’s original findings of the Port Channel, complete with precise measurements of the various sections of the channels and with the careful design of the guardian piers, were found inside the “Code L”; the manuscript also contains a drawing of Cesenatico taken from the ancient Fortress (destroyed during World War II). Hub of city life, along the Port Channel you can still see different places and historical traces of great importance, from Byzantine columns which are located on either side of the bridge, near Pisacane Square, from the period of Venetian domination of the early 500. Again we find the Monument of Garibaldi on Pisacane Square, built in 1884 (the first in Italy) to commemorate the landing of Garibaldi’s troops who took refuge in Cesenatico on the flight from the Austrians. From here, with the support of the entire city, they left for Venice where they will be rescued. All major activities have been developed around the Port Channel, so today we find Piazzetta delle Erbe, the old Fish Market and Piazza delle Conserve; then continuing on the dock we meet Ciceruacchio Square, where it is traced the perimeter of the Pretoria Tower, formerly placed here to guard the port, but we also find the City Gallery on the places built in 1926, which hosted the first indoor fish market in Cesenatico and now home to exhibitions. On the most recent stretch of the Port Channel, where the lighthouse is, there are the massive Vinci Gates that protect the town from winter storms, while in the inner part of the Port Channel is the floating section of the Marine Museum, while the ground section is located at a short distance, in Via Armellini. Along the docks of the Port Channel you can still breathe a lively and welcoming atmosphere, with a veil of suggestion donated by small low houses that were once inhabited by fishermen. Here you can also find some of the historic restaurants of Cesenatico, where the fish is always fresh, such as Osteria del Gran Fritto (Corso Garibaldi, 41 phone 0547 82 474) that offers also take-away food, or Restaurant La Buca (Corso Garibaldi, 45 phone 0547 1860764), or even Osteria da Beppe (Via Saffi, 8 phone 0547 81529) near the Marine Museum; for lovers of local cuisine with a menu of meat, besides fish, there is also Osteria degli Inseguiti (Corso Garibaldi 56, phone 0547 673 680). The area also comes alive in all periods of the year, with various events, from the Marine Nativity at Christmas, to the gastronomic event Azzurro come il Pesce (Blue like the Fish) or the most important sporting event in May, the Nove Colli bike race.