Gradara boasts the Orange Flag (an Italian recognition of quality, awarded by the Touring Club Italiano to small towns - population 15,000 or less - for excellency in tourism, hospitality and the environment) and is one of the best medieval villages of Italy enclosed inside a long city wall with a spectacular fortress, a superb example of military architecture.
As per ancient belief, Francesca da Rimini and her lover, Paolo were killed here in the year 1289. The scene of the tragic love story between Paolo and Francesca was immortalised by Dante, "The trembling mouth, kissed me..."