At a glance
- Boat trips: from the harbour to the park's coves, May to September
- Snorkelling: excellent seabeds along the sides of the bay
- Diving: 10-25 metres, with diving centres of the Marche-Romagna coast
- Boat hire: available at the harbour, with or without licence
- Kayak, SUP, sailing: rental from the lido and coastal operators
- Sport fishing: from shore on the harbour breakwaters, from boats with local operators
- Best season: May-October
Boat trips
In season, boat trips depart from the harbour of Vallugola along the coast of the park, with itineraries of varying length.
Along the cliff (heading south)
The classic itinerary skirts the cliff towards Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola di Focara and beyond. It is the most direct way to:
- See the cliff head-on in all its extent
- Look at the ridge villages from the sea's perspective
- Reach the smaller coves of the park, accessible only by sea
Heading north
Towards Gabicce Mare and Cattolica, in a reversal of perspective that shows the shift from the high coast of the San Bartolo to the sandy plain of the Riviera. Used mainly by the tourist motor boats of Cattolica and Gabicce that include Vallugola as a stop.
Day cruises
Some operators run full-day cruises with a morning departure, a stop in open water for swimming, lunch on board or at the harbour restaurants and return in the late afternoon.
Boat hire
For those with a nautical licence, small motor boats can be hired from operators at the harbour. For those without a licence, hire with a skipper is available.
For times, prices and bookings, the point of reference is the harbour operators and the motor boats of Cattolica and Gabicce.
Snorkelling
The seabeds of the bay are particularly suited to snorkelling thanks to:
- High clarity of the water (up to 4-5 metres visibility in optimal conditions)
- Pebble and rocky seabeds with the coastal fauna of rocky shores
- Sheltered shape of the bay, which produces calm water on quiet days
Where to snorkel
The sides of the bay, where the cliff drops straight into the water, are the best areas. The central part of the beach is less interesting because the seabed is more uniform.
What you'll see
Coastal fish (damselfish, saddled seabream, salema, rainbow wrasse, bogue, the odd grey mullet), crustaceans (crabs, hermit crabs), molluscs, starfish, sea urchins, brown algae and small patches of posidonia on the deeper seabeds.
Kit
- Standard mask and snorkel
- Fins (short for relaxed practice, long for quick movement)
- Reef shoes for entering the water from the pebbles
- Water-resistant sunscreen and a swim top for long sessions
Season
June-September is the best period, with peak visibility in July-August after stable weather. North-easterly storms temporarily reduce the clarity.
Scuba diving
The Vallugola area is reached through the diving centres of the Marche-Romagna coast, which organise guided dives.
Dive sites
- The submerged cliff, where the cliff continues underwater with overhangs, small walls and boulder accumulations. It is the main site in the area
- The area of the Valbruna legend, historically a target of archaeological research
- A few wrecks of recent boats spread along the coast
Depth and visibility
- Depth: generally 10-25 metres; deeper sites are reserved for advanced certifications
- Visibility: 3-8 metres depending on weather, season and currents. Higher values come after long periods of calm sea
Season and safety
Optimal season: May-October. In May and October a thicker wetsuit is needed. Dives should always be done with qualified diving centres or with experienced local groups: the Focara wind and local currents can change conditions rapidly. Solo diving is not recommended.
Archaeological finds
The waters off Vallugola are among the most important in the underwater archaeology of the upper Adriatic. Over the decades, finds have been documented ranging from fifth-century BC Attic vases to Roman pottery and worked late-medieval and sixteenth-century stones, the latter linked by studies to harbour structures now submerged.
The main finds are at the Museo della Regina of Cattolica and the Sorbini Palaeontological Museum of Fiorenzuola.
Important for divers: the finding of archaeological items must be reported to the Superintendence for the Archaeological Heritage of the Marche. Unauthorised collection is forbidden by law.
Kayak, SUP, sailing
Kayak and canoe. The sheltered bay, the shallow waters near shore and the absence of intense boat traffic make it ideal for kayaking, even for occasional practitioners. Hire is available at the lido and from coastal operators.
Stand Up Paddle (SUP). The calm waters of the bay, particularly in the morning hours, suit SUP practice even for beginners.
Sailing. Wind conditions favour the summer thermal mistral. The sailing schools of Cattolica and Gabicce Mare run courses and trips reaching Vallugola.
Sport fishing
From shore: allowed from the harbour breakwaters and from sections of coast outside the equipped beach, in compliance with provincial regulations.
From a boat: run by local operators with half-day or full-day trips. The most common techniques are trolling and bolentino (drop-line). Peak season in spring and autumn.
Species caught in the area: mackerel, leerfish, bonito, dentex, saddled seabream, striped seabream, scad.
The legend of Valbruna
The oral tradition of the coast places off the bay a legendary sunken city, lost in a remote age: Valbruna. Modern historical and archaeological studies consider the legend without documentary basis, linking the finds on the seabed to late-medieval and sixteenth-century harbour structures now submerged.
The reference to the legend remains one of the distinctive features of the bay's identity, present in Piazza Valbruna at Gabicce Monte and in the storytelling of boat trips.
