At a glance
- Municipality: Gabicce Mare (PU)
- Capacity: around 200 berths
- Maximum boat length: 14 metres on the main pontoon
- Depths in the basin: 2-3.5 metres
- Opening: all year, full operation April-October
- Services: water, electricity, showers, slipway, mooring assistance
- Fuel: not available in the harbour, fuel stations at Cattolica and Pesaro
- Coordinates: 43°57' N, 12°48' E
Harbour services
On the pontoons and at the quay you can find:
- Fresh water at the service columns
- Electricity at the service columns
- Showers and toilets for berth-holders
- Slipway for boats on a trailer
- Mooring assistance in high season
On the harbour square there are also seafood restaurants with outdoor tables, a number of nautical service businesses and direct access to the beach, a few metres from the quay.
Fuel is not available at the harbour. The nearest marine fuel stations are at the harbour of Cattolica (4 nautical miles to the north) and the harbour of Pesaro (7 nautical miles to the south).
Visiting berths
The harbour has berths set aside for transit. In high season (June-September) booking is recommended and rates follow the season.
For availability, rates and booking, the point of reference is the harbour management company, contactable by radio on the dedicated VHF channel or by telephone. For boats longer than 14 metres or with deep draft, advance checking is required.
How to reach the harbour
By sea
| Departure harbour | Distance |
|---|---|
| Cattolica | 4 nautical miles |
| Rimini | 12 nm |
| Pesaro | 7 nm |
| Fano | 14 nm |
| Ancona | 35 nm |
| Ravenna | 50 nm |
The approach along the coastline is generally flat and free of surface obstacles. The harbour entrance can be identified from the sea by the breakwater and the height of the cliff behind it.
Take care in case of north-easterly swell: visibility of the harbour mouth can be reduced and entry conditions can become demanding.
By land
From the A14, exit at Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce, take the SS 16 southbound, then the SP 44 Panoramica to the turn-off for Vallugola. From the south, exit at Pesaro-Urbino and take the SP 44 northbound. The descent to the harbour is 900 metres on a narrow road.
The harbour car park is run by the concessionaire and includes spaces for berth-holders and visitors.
Opening periods
The harbour is open all year. Full service operation runs in the April-October season, with staff on the pontoons and mooring assistance.
In the winter months access is permitted but quay services are reduced. Wintering boats remain at their moorings or are brought ashore.
Boat trips from Vallugola
From the harbour, in season, boat trips depart along the coast of the San Bartolo Park, with stops in the pebble coves of the Adriatic side that are otherwise reachable only by sea or via steep paths.
Typical offerings:
- Cliff tour towards Fiorenzuola di Focara and back
- Mini-cruise with a swim stop in the smaller coves
- Panoramic leg towards Casteldimezzo to see the cliff in its full extent
- Snorkelling trips over rocky seabeds
The trips are run both by operators based at the harbour and by motor boats from Cattolica and Gabicce Mare, with Vallugola as a stop. For times, prices and bookings, the point of reference is the harbour or the coastal operators.
What to do in the harbour area
Even without a boat, the harbour of Vallugola is a destination for a stroll:
- Walk along the quay to look at the boats and the cliff behind
- Lunch or dinner at the seafood restaurants facing the square
- Direct access to the beach a few metres away
- Start of the paths climbing to the ridge (path 151d)
