Where to eat in Cattolica: fish, bizulà and miacetto

Two specialities help define Cattolica's cuisine: bizulà, the fishermen's bread, and miacetto, a Christmas cake. Alongside these are Adriatic fish, Romagna pasta and piadina. The harbour, seafront and centre offer different settings for a meal.

Bizulà, the fishermen's bread

Bizulà is the bread of Cattolica's fishermen: a ring loaf with a central hole wide enough for an arm, a light crust and a crumb that stays crumbly even when dry. Its shape and recipe suited fishing trips lasting several days, when bread had to keep for a long time on board.

Fishing boats moored in Cattolica's canal harbour, with the black-and-white lighthouse and houses in the background — Photo by Silvietta 79, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Clams, grilled fish and brodetto

Clams, called poveracce in Romagna, are among the ingredients of coastal cooking. Mantis shrimps, cuttlefish, oily fish and sea snails feature in other preparations, from first courses to main dishes. Grilled fish, fried fish and brodetto fish stew use different ingredients and cooking methods.

Clams in a red colander, ready to be cooked — Photo by Albarubescens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Coastal dishes include mantis shrimps au gratin and cuttlefish with peas.

Piadina, pasta and miacetto

Cattolica lies within the production area of Piadina Romagnola IGP. Piadina can accompany a meal or be filled with cured meats, cheeses and vegetables. It offers an alternative to fresh pasta: tagliatelle, cappelletti and passatelli bring Romagna's traditional pasta, fillings and broth to the table. Meat dishes sit alongside seafood.

A close-up of a plate of spaghetti with clams — Photo by Albarubescens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Miacetto is Cattolica's signature cake: an oven-baked Christmas cake without yeast, made with dried fruit and nuts, citrus peel, honey, sugar and fine wheat bran. Its recipe is documented as early as the seventeenth century.

Wines from the hinterland complete the meal options. Names from the Romagna hills include Sangiovese, Trebbiano and Rebola.

From the harbour to the centre

The harbour area on the Tavollo combines dinner with a walk among the boats and a continuation onto the Marche bank, with the cuisine of Gabicce Mare. The seafront stays close to a day at the beach, while the centre links a meal with shops and squares. Mercato Coperto is a place for food shopping, distinct from the fish market used by trade professionals.

Festivals devoted to fish and rustida have their own schedules, listed under Cattolica events. The guides to shopping in Cattolica and entertainment in Cattolica offer activities before or after a meal.