Porto di Cesenatico

A symbol of the town, the Porto Canale of Cesenatico, better known as the Porto Leonardesco, is the heart of the old town. It runs along the Fosso Venarella and takes in many places of interest, such as the Casa Museo Marino Moretti, the Museo della Marineria, Piazza Pisacane with its monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, and the nineteenth-century fish market, from which you can reach Piazza delle Conserve.
At Christmas, the Presepe della Marineria is set up on the historic boats (the Sezione Galleggiante of the Museo della Marineria), with life-size figures. A striking display that draws thousands of tourists every year.

Good to know

• In 1502 Leonardo da Vinci visited Cesenatico, tasked with assessing the condition of the town's infrastructure (then part of the Ducato di Romagna). During that time he produced two drawings of the harbour, now kept in the library of the Institut de France in Paris.
• The harbour of Cesenatico was built around 1300; Leonardo did not really influence the infrastructure itself, but over time the existence of the drawings shaped the identity of the place, giving rise to the name “Porto Leonardesco”.
• It can be considered the heart of the town, so much so that all events, whether for tourists or not, take place on the quays of this harbour, including the popular "Azzurro come il pesce" and "Il Pesce fa festa".