Dolce far niente with Drive – Your Golf Holiday in Cervia

Dear readers

The best places? The ones you’d never heard of before.

Welcome to Cervia – or, as I like to call it, the Riviera with a tailwind. Here, nine kilometres of golden sand meet Mediterranean ease, historic flavour and sporting lightness. Sure, you could simply stretch out by the sea and breathe in the Dolce Vita – but the Emilia-Romagna region has far more to offer …

From fishing and maritime trade to magnificent salt warehouses and the iconic San Michele watchtower – Cervia was never just a coastal town, but always a place with character. Today, between pine forests, stylish hotels and golf courses, you’ll find stories that are almost as good to tell as a hole-in-one on a dogleg par-4. Because a top golf course lies here, flying under the radar!

Sun on your skin, salt in the air, a smile on your face. Cervia is waiting. All you need to do is come.

Enjoy discovering it –

your NineteenGolf.Guide team

Golf between salt lake and fairway – Adriatic Golf Club Cervia

Just a par-5 from the beach awaits a 27-hole golfing dream that refuses to settle for mediocrity – it’s no coincidence the Italian Open teed off here in 2024. Three distinct nine-hole loops lead you through quiet pine forests, along shimmering salt lakes, and straight into a setting that sits somewhere between Scottish links legend and American water drama.

… to the golf course by the coast

With more than 20 golf courses, Emilia-Romagna offers an impressive playground for anyone who loves fairways with flair: whether you’d rather tee off among cypress trees or send your drive towards the Adriatic – here, golf becomes an experience with a view.

Discover the golf courses now…

Discovering Cervia – Beyond the Beach

Your Detour to the Torre San Michele

The Torre San Michele belongs to Cervia the way salt belongs to the sea – and if you really want to feel the place, you should climb right to the top. From the uppermost floor of the historic tower, a 360-degree panorama opens up: over the rooftops of the old town, the vast pine forest, the glittering salt pans – all the way to the horizon, where the sea meets the sky.

Our tip: a stroll along the canal, when the tower glows gold, is the perfect way to close out a summer’s day.

A pine forest from another time

Just a short stroll from the bustle of Milano Marittima, you’ll find a place of calm – the pine forest of Cervia. Today, the Pineta di Cervia is a protected natural paradise, part of the Po Delta regional park – and perfect if you want to combine golf, indulgence and nature.

Our tip: the forest borders directly onto the Adriatic Golf Club Cervia – so you can easily switch from a stroll to the fairway. Or the other way round!

Fun for the whole family

Just 10 km from Cervia lies Mirabilandia – Italy’s largest amusement park. Here, over 40 attractions await across six themed worlds: from record-chasing rollercoasters like Katun to a relaxed all-round view from the 90-metre-high Eurowheel. A highlight for young and old alike: the legendary Hot Wheels Stunt Show – loud, wild and unforgettable.

Our tip: thrills in the park first, then Dolce Vita at sunset in Milano Marittima.

Cervia’s salt landscape resembles a quiet work of art: more than 50 basins, threaded through by a 16-kilometre canal that draws Adriatic water in and lets it out again. As the brackish water slowly evaporates, what remains is what everything here has revolved around for centuries – salt. Authentic. Traditional. And still hand-made. From late August to early September, the white gold is harvested here – around 1,000 quintals per year.

With a Salty Soul.

As early as the 5th century, the place had a name that sounds like history itself: Ficocle – Greek for roughly “famous for seaweed”. Later it became Acervus, “salt mountain” in Latin. And that’s exactly what it was all about: salt – the white gold that made Cervia great.

The best way to understand and discover Cervia is in the Salt Pan Park – because this is where the key to an age-old tradition lies: the production of Cervia’s famous “sweet salt”. And all of this in the middle of a fascinating ecosystem that’s home to flamingos, stilts and great egrets.

On foot, by bike, or comfortably by boat – there are various ways to experience the Salt Pan Park of Cervia. One thing, though, always comes along: a knowledgeable guide who brings you closer to the secrets of this unique place.

Discover Cervia…

Sunrise by the sea: Milano Marittima

Milano Marittima is Cervia’s chic district – an elegant seaside resort on the Adriatic coast in the Emilia-Romagna region, where pine forests meet designer bikinis and the sound of the sea provides the perfect soundtrack for Dolce Vita. Here you stroll rather than rush, shop between concept stores and cocktail bars – and settle onto the beach not just anywhere, but on a perfectly cushioned lounger with service and style.

Here you’ll find everything that makes up Italian summer life – polished Dolce Vita, sporting lightness and a touch of understatement. Especially popular with families, us golf fans, and anyone who loves the sea.

Cervia Tastes of the Sea, Salt and More.

Oh, now things get really delicious! Emilia-Romagna isn’t called the “belly of Italy” for nothing. Around Cervia, which sits on the Adriatic coast, the hearty cuisine of the north meets fresh flavours from the sea.

A culinary evening in Cervia is like a stroll through the flavours of Emilia-Romagna – with a touch of sea breeze and a pinch of Dolce Vita. Here, freshly caught fish, the finest DOP mussels straight from the sea, homemade pasta and Cervia’s famous “sweet salt” all come together.

Incidentally: the mussels you enjoy in Cervia come straight from the sea – not from a lagoon or bay. They grow in carefully monitored mussel farms, where the water is regularly checked. Harvesting only takes place when the water quality is flawless. It’s hard to get fresher or more honest than that!

Whether you dine right at the harbour or retreat to a cosy trattoria – the choice is yours!

Indulgence with your feet in the sand

Along the wide beaches of Cervia and Milano Marittima, plenty of beach restaurants await you – right by the sea, with the breeze in your hair and your feet in warm sand. Here you can enjoy fresh fish, homemade pasta and regional specialities in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. And for dessert – depending on the time of day – there’s either a picture-book sunset or a glass of wine with the sound of the sea.

Fish restaurants around the harbour

Around Cervia’s harbour, you’ll find fish restaurants you’d rather never leave. For generations, chefs here have conjured genuine classics from freshly caught seafood – often following family recipes guarded at least as closely as the wine stock in the cellar. The proximity to the harbour ensures not just top freshness but real local colour too: here you can taste the sea – and experience the region’s maritime soul up close.

Chic venues with rooftop terrace or pool

If you fancy a slightly smarter culinary experience, Cervia has that too. Stylish rooftop restaurants or venues with a pool view serve up not just fine cuisine but design with a view – often with a panorama over the town, beach or sea. Whether for a romantic dinner for two or simply because you feel like treating yourself again: here, gourmet dining meets big-city flair with a sea breeze.

Discover Cervia’s culinary variety now!

How to get to Cervia…

The four charming towns of the Riviera Romagnola – Milano Marittima, Cervia, Pinarella and Tagliata – sit right on the sunny Adriatic coast.

You can reach the region from Switzerland in several ways.

By Car

From Switzerland, you’ll get there in around 6 hours. The route runs via Lucerne and the Gotthard Tunnel through Lombardy to the Adriatic coast – tolls included. Please avoid traffic jams at the Gotthard (tip: check the San Bernardino alternative).

By Train

From, say, Zurich to Cervia, you’ll need around 7 to 11 hours depending on the connection – mostly via Milan and Bologna. There’s no direct train, but the journey is comfortable and relaxed. Ideal for anyone who likes to read, watch the world go by, or simply do nothing en route.

By Plane

From Zurich to Bologna (approx. 100 km) or Rimini (approx. 35 km) – both airports get you very close to Cervia. From there, continue by train, rental car or taxi. Flight time? Around 1.5 hours – the perfect shortcut to the sunset.

Note: this newsletter was created in partnership with the Emilia-Romagna Tourist Board – with great attention to detail and the aim of bringing you closer to special places and culinary highlights.