Bagni 45 Maristella, Gabicce

Gabicce holds a special place in Marco Bizzarri’s heart, as it’s where he met his wife Maristella, to whom he dedicated this boutique beach club with just 22 umbrellas in the “Sottomonte” area – the geographical end of the Romagna Riviera, where it gives way to the first promontory of the upper Adriatic, Monte San Bartolo. The Bizzarri family’s presence in Gabicce extends beyond Bagni Maristella, as Marco’s son Stefano and his partner Allegra Tirotti Romanoff manage the now famous Michelin-starred restaurant Dalla Gioconda, complemented by a scattered hotel with various rooms overlooking the natural park perched above the sea. The beach setups are absolutely charming, French Riviera style, with double sun loungers and director’s chairs in horizontal white and blue stripes. Bar Bonito is the go-to spot for refreshments, featuring a “cascioneria” serving hot cascioni to accompany octopus and other seafood specialties, or simply for a fruit skewer between swims, along with some offerings directly from the main restaurant. When the currents cooperate, the sea here is truly beautiful, generally calm with crystal-clear waters rarely found further north in Romagna; after all, this is truly a different region, and the border here represents more than just a geographical invention.