Cattolica
Free beaches in Cattolica
Cattolica's free beaches are by the harbour, Piazzale Primo Maggio, the Via Fiume jetty, the mouth of the Ventena and Parco Le Navi. These areas differ in size, services and proximity to river mouths. Beach establishment numbers increase from the harbour towards the Conca and help locate access points.
The five main landmarks
The table lists areas covered by the Comune's 2026 lifeguard arrangements. Swimming is prohibited off the harbour and river mouths.
| Area | Location | Useful landmark |
|---|---|---|
| Harbour | beside beach establishment 4 | Piazza Gian Franco Micucci, formerly Piazzetta del Tramonto; public toilets and showers documented in 2026 |
| Piazzale Primo Maggio | between beach establishments 42 and 44 | access from Lungomare Rasi Spinelli |
| Via Fiume jetty | between beach establishments 51 and 52 | small stretch near the jetty |
| Ventena | right bank of the river, beyond beach establishment 108 | access from Viale Carducci; bans near the mouth |
| Parco Le Navi | between areas 114-116 and beach establishment 117 | Piazzale delle Nazioni, opposite the Acquario |
The beach plan also marks a free stretch between beach establishment 117 and the Conca, separate from the municipal beach opposite Parco Le Navi.
Sources: Comune di Cattolica, 2026 lifeguard and service measures and 2025 beach plan, accessed on 25 September 2026.
Parco Le Navi and access to the sea
The beach opposite Parco Le Navi is near the buildings of Acquario di Cattolica. It is a municipal area largely intended for free use, with its own lifeguard arrangements documented for summer 2026. In summer, it is also Cattolica's only free beach where dogs can reach the sea.
Services and reduced mobility
The municipal tourism listings describe accessible walkways, toilets and showers in the free areas. The beach plan also requires neighbouring beach establishments to make services available where a free area lacks them.
Dogs: Parco Le Navi only for swimming, in summer
Ordinanza comunale 2/2024, valid until further notice, regulates dogs during the summer bathing season, which runs each year from the Saturday before Easter to 2 November. During this period, the beach opposite Parco Le Navi admits dogs only to reach the designated swimming water, from dawn to 7am and from 7pm to sunset: they cannot stay on the sand or walk along the waterline.
Dogs reach the water on a lead, which must be put back on when they leave; the owner remains present and collects dog waste. At beach establishments with a designated dog area, swimming is allowed from dawn to 8am and from 7pm to sunset. From 3 November to the Saturday before Easter, the regional ban does not apply, and the municipal ordinance, which concerns only the summer season, sets no rules on dogs on the beach.
Sources: ordinanza comunale sui cani 2/2024, articles 1 and 2; regional bathing ordinance, consolidated text with determinazione 8398/2026, articles 1 and 4; accessed on 10 October 2026.
Swimming and seasonal services
For 2026, the Viale Fiume water is classified as excellent and Cattolica's other four waters as good; the harbour, Ventena and Conca include stretches closed to swimming. Any temporary bans are published on the Arpae bathing water portal.
The regional ordinance makes lifeguard cover compulsory from the third weekend in May to the third in September: in 2026, from 16 May to 20 September. In other months, the free beaches have no lifeguards.
Choosing access from the town
Lungomare Rasi Spinelli serves the harbour and Piazzale Primo Maggio; Via Fiume leads to the jetty, while Viale Carducci and Piazzale delle Nazioni are the landmarks towards Ponente. Start Romagna route 125 links Cattolica with Misano Mare and Riccione; travel from the station is covered in the Cattolica guide.
The Cattolica beach page compares Levante and Ponente. Across the Tavollo are the access points to Gabicce Mare's free beaches, subject to the Marche regulations.
Sources: Comune di Cattolica, 2025 beach plan and Cattolica Welcome portal, accessed on 29 September 2026; Regione Emilia-Romagna, 2026 bathing water classification (DGR 561/2026), accessed on 10 October 2026; Start Romagna, winter 2026-2027 timetable, accessed on 10 October 2026.