Porto canale leonardesco

The porto canale has been the heart of Cesenatico for over five hundred years. In 1502 Leonardo da Vinci, serving Cesare Borgia as a military engineer, studied it and drew a survey, now in one of his codices: that's why they call it 'leonardesco'. The canal brings the sea right into the historic centre, between two rows of colourful fishermen's houses.

In the innermost stretch you'll find the floating section of the Museo della Marineria: about ten traditional Adriatic boats, bragozzi, trabaccoli and lances, which in summer raise their lateen sails painted with the symbols of fishing families. It's a spectacle you can see for free, strolling along the quaysides.

The land section of the museum tells the story of life at sea: fishing, boat building, the voyages of trabaccoli along the coast. Along the canal you'll also find the monument to Garibaldi, who in 1849 set off from here fleeing towards Venice, and the piazzetta delle Conserve, with the ancient pits dug into the ground to preserve fish with snow.

At Christmas the Presepe della Marineria lights up in the canal, with life-size statues on the boats: one of the most photographed images of the Riviera. In the evening, among fish restaurants and lights reflected in the water, it's the perfect place to end your day.