Direct connections from Cesena

The urban architecture in Forlì speaks loudly and clearly of its history.
The center of the city’s life is Piazza Aurelio Saffi, with a monument dedicated to Saffi himself. Here, one notices the modern marks left by the heavy interventions of the Fascist era. The Palazzo del Municipio‘s origins hark back to the Middle Ages, while the Palazzo del Potestà dates back to the 15th Century.
The monument that typifies the city the most is the Basilica of San Mercuriale, an old abbey with an impressive, Romanesque bell tower and numerous artworks inside. Not far from here is the Cathedral, subjected to several repairs around 1970.

Stroll along Corso Diaz, Corso Garibaldi, Corso della Repubblica and Corso Mazzini, all traversing the city and united by their elegance and harmony, although each one holds its own peculiarities. Forlì is also culturally important and is the lcoation many museums, including the A. Santarelli Archaeological Museum, the Civic Painting Gallery, the Pergoli Romagna Ethnographic Museum, Villa Saffi, the Aurelio Saffi Risorgimento Museum and the Romagna Theatre Museum.
Moving toward the countryside, be sure to visit the ancient Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, also called di Fornò, rebuilt during the 1500s. The church of the Sanctuary is considered to be one of the most singular rotund churches in Italy.

In Cesena, Piazza del Popolo is where the city’s wheels turn, and where Francesco Masini’s 16th-Century fountain and the City Hall – dating back to the 14th Century – charm.
In the vicinity is the Malatestian Fortress, surrounded by a superb park. It houses the Museum of Agriculture, one of the most important in the region. The Cathedral is said to be built on a Roman temple and is the central point of the city, whilst the Malatestian Library is a precious trove of humanistic culture that is still intact today.

Moving on from Cesena, one can visit Longiano, a Medieval village surrounded by two walls with three gateways. A fortress and Venetian basin at its entrance commemmorate the Most Serene Republic’s brief domination.
Halfway between Forlì and Cesena is the town of Forlimpopoli. Its imposing fortress is also the site of the Civic Archaeological Museum. The name of the town is tied to Pellegrino Artusi, author of the first book codifying Italian cuisine. His Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well was first published over one hundred years ago.

In Montepoggiolo, near the Terra del Sole lies one of the richest prehistoric sites in northern Italy, with thousands of finds from the Paleolithic era. It was discovered in 1983, in the Cà Belvedere area.
Inextricably tied to the sea and exhibiting a vivacious and hospitable personality is Cesenatico. Notice the fishing boats and houses on Porto Canale, the structure was designed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1502 on behalf of Cesare Borgia.

Not to be missed are also Savignano sul Rubicone, Gatteo and San Mauro Pascoli.