During the Roman times, Gradara
was first a pagus in the countryside of Pesaro, then with the spreading
of the Christian religion it became a parish and ended up a medieval village
dominated by a huge quadrangular tower with merlons.
Starting from 1283 Gradara
is under the rule of the Guelph Malatesta.
Giangiotto
Malatesta is one of the characters in the story of Paolo e Francesca which tragically ends in this fortress in 1289.
Since 1464, Gradara has been ruled by the Sforzas who must defend it by the
Malatesta. Giovanni Sforza, the unfortunate husband of Lucrezia Borgia, has to
compete with Valentino.
From 1513 the lords of Gradara
are the Della Rovere family and after their extinction the village becomes an
uncontested property of the Papal States. the town passes through a period of
total immobility under the Church. The Austrian secessionist war (1743-45) does
not touch Gradara which instead suffers from the devastations and the sacking
carried on by the Napoleonic troops.
The territory is included in the
Cisalpine Republic first and in the Italic Reign later. After the fall of
Napoleon (1815) it returns under the Church.
From 1513 the lords of Gradara
are the Della Rovere family and after their extinction the village becomes an
uncontested property of the Papal States. the town passes through a period of
total immobility under the Church. The Austrian secessionist war (1743-45) does
not touch Gradara which instead suffers from the devastations and the sacking
carried on by the Napoleonic troops. 