Romagna RivieraRomagna Riviera

Summertime: the locations in Romagna of the Italian Netflix series

by /// June 6, 2023
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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Summer in Romagna is a moment of escape, freedom and discovery, when even the love story you’ve always wanted may come true.

It is in this poetic and geographic scenario that the Netflix original series Summertime takes place – capturing our attention and taking us directly on the beaches of Romagna.

Produced by Cattleya, and loosely based on Federico Moccia’s book series, Summertime is made up of three seasons (with the first one released in April 2020), and tells the love story between Ale (Ludovico Tersigni) and Summer (Coco Rebecca Edogamhe), two young adults that destiny brings together.

Friends (Dario, Andrea Lattanzi; Sofia, Amanda Campana; Edo, Giovanni Manipunta; Rita, Lucrezia Guidone; Milena, Sara Mondello), family (Isabella, Thony; Blue, Alicia Ann Edogamhe; Alberto Boubakar Malanchino, Antony Bennati), first kisses and frustrations, the search for one’s own individuality, the desire of redemption and the will of believing in the future and in one’s own dreams.

With sun-drenched scenarios, the filming locations perfectly reflect the essence of summer. Most of the scenes have been filmed in Romagna, between Ravenna, Cervia and Cesenatico.

Thanks to the warm, deep tones of the photography, each scene is filled with that sense of light-heartedness that is typical of a summer in the Riviera, recalling in the imagination of the viewers the mix of colours and experiences that has made this land famous all over the world since the 1960s.

Let’s discover together the most significant places of the series – no spoiler!

THE BEACH OF CASALBORSETTI

A long stretch of sand, framed by soft dunes and a lush pine forest, well served by efficient campsites, as the one where Edo works in the first two seasons.

Getting to the beach of Casalborsetti is not easy, if you don’t take the right path. But this is the place where Summer, Ale and Lola (Amparo Piñero) go when they look for tranquillity and light-heartedness.

Casalborsetti also hosts the beach establishments where the parties and concerts of the third season take place, and where Luca (Cristiano Caccamo) shows his singing skills.

THE LAGOON OF MARINA ROMEA

Summertime | Foto © Netflix

“Nowhere in the world” will you find a place like this.

In summer, at sunset, the sky seem to catch fire on the horizon, reflecting on the water of the lagoon and on the Pine forest of San Vitale.

If you are hopeless romantics, this is the right place for you, as it was for the two protagonists, Ale and Summer, that met here for the first time.

THE BEACH AND THE PINE FOREST OF MARINA ROMEA

A fishing hut in the middle of the sea is the cherry on top of one of the most beautiful beaches of Ravenna. We are in Marina Romea, at the mouth of the Lamone river.

A century-old pine forest runs along wild dunes up until Punta Marina, while beach establishments live together with surfers and isolated campings in the middle of nature.

Would you like to see all this? Follow the protagonists of the series, you will see them go through these places in season 1 and 3.

THE DAM OF MARINA DI RAVENNA

The two dams, one in Marina di Ravenna and one in Porto Corsini, almost look like two long arms stretching towards the sea.

Two ‘railways’ of almost 3 km length, dotted by the typical fishing huts, along which you can whether run or walk at any hour of the day.

People come here to find some peace, do some sports, for a romantic walk or even just to feel the salt caressing their face…

And then, there are those who take part in ‘motorcycle races’ (strictly forbidden of course!), like Ale and Dario, the heroes of our series.

THE PROMENADE IN MARINA DI RAVENNA

One of the many places where Ale, Summer, Dario, Sofia, Lola and the other protagonists of Summertime use to meet is just below the lighthouse of Marina di Ravenna, among fishing and sail boats moored in the tourist port (MarinaRa).

It is also the place where Ale lives on his sail boat in the third season of the series.

This film adaptation is not so far from reality: this area has always been a meeting point for tourists and citizens who want to take a break from everyday life at the historical little bar.

Not far from here is also Cestha, an excellent centre for wildlife rescue and background of many scenes in the last season.

THE DARSENA AREA IN RAVENNA

Darsena 3.0 | Magazzini Granai Silos (Via Manfredi Eustachio 2, Ravenna)

Ravenna’s underground soul. A long artificial canal connecting the city to the sea.

Along the docks, old port warehouses witness a past that no longer exists, but that is still present in our memory.

Today, the future of this area is made of wall murals, multi-functional spaces and avant-garde clubs (among them, for example, Darsena PopUp); but it is also a privileged destination for youngsters, families and sportspeople, who made this area a popular meeting place.

THE HISTORICAL CENTRE OF RAVENNA

The historical centre is easily recognisable in many scenes of the third season.

From the spectacular Via Galla Placidia, running along the complex of the Basilica di San Vitale, to the porch of Piazza San Francesco and Via Mazzini, where Sofia and the photographer Federica meet.

THE BEACH OF BASSONA 

Summertime | Foto © Netflix

“Have you been here before?” “No. […] It’s funny though. It feels like somewhere far away”.

These few words Ale says are enough to make you understand what you feel when you step on the beach of Bassona in Lido di Dante.

Just forget the typical noise of the Riviera, with enraged parents and screaming kids.Nature, silence, tranquillity and the scent of summer reign here.

All around you, just the sound of the waves and some voices carried by the wind, coming from the distance.

THE GRAND HOTEL IN CESENATICO

Summertime | Foto © Netflix

The Grand Hotel in Cesenatico is just a few metres from the sea. Founded in 1929, today it is the absolute symbol of the city.

It’s the hotel where Ale’s mother works, and it’s where Summer finds a job as a receptionist during the summer months.

Right in front of the hotel is Piazza Andrea Costa, which has hosted a large and bright ferris wheel for several years now and is a popular meeting point for youngsters.

From up above you can admire the city and its landscape, including the big skyscraper overlooking the sea, which is — along with the one in Rimini — a landmark on the coastline.

MOLO PONENTE IN CESENATICO

Molto Ponente (Cesenatico)

“Emojis are everything. Words… they don’t matter anymore”.

This is what Sofia tells Dario just before diving into the blue of the Adriatic Sea.

On the background are the Molo Ponente and Molo Levante docks, dotted with their typical fishing huts.

It’s the perfect spot for romantic strolls, with several little fish restaurants and a perfect skyline, embellished by the smooth colours of summer.

Here is also the fishing hut of Edo’s family that he and his father (Giuseppe Giacobazzi) rent to tourists in summer.

THE PROMENADE OF CESENATICO

The promenade of Cesenatico in summer is an infinite multitude of light-heartedness. Seagulls on the seashore, colourful beach umbrellas, busy benches and ice-cream prices hand-written on blackboards.

A meeting place also for Summer and his friends, among laughs and hugs but also misunderstandings.

THE CANALS IN CESENATICO AND CERVIA

You can see them in season 3, and you cannot ignore them.

There is the canal port in Cesenatico with the ancient fishing boats and the canal in Cervia, with the unique San Michele Tower.

Last but not least, the Salt Pans of Cervia at sunset, the background of a passionate meeting between Ale and Summer.

THE BEACH OF CESENATICO


There is something warm, romantic and vintage about the overhead shots of the beaches of Cesenatico: a kaleidoscope of emotions that only the Romagna Riviera can offer.

Among old colonies and more modern holiday resorts, the western part of the beach is much beloved by tourists who appreciate uncrowded areas and the charm of nature.

Look for the beach establishment of the series on Google Maps. It is called “Paradiso” – just like Romagna.

Author

Davide Marino

Davide Marino was born archaeologist but ended up doing other things. Rational – but not methodic, slow – but passionate. A young enthusiast with grey hair

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