Cesenate

<< Emilia-Romagna

The eastern part of the Province of Forlì-Cesena is known as Cesenate, named after its largest town Cesena. The coast east of Cesena features various seaside resort, while some beautiful small towns are located among the hills and mountains to the south.

Cesena

Cesena is a city in Romagna and the second largest town in the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It was probably founded by the Umbri around the 5th century BCE, before becoming a Roman town. During the Middle Ages the town was contested between local powers, later flourishing under the rule of the Malatesta family in the 15th century. The city declined after becoming part of the Papal States, and it joined Italy during its unification. Cesena is now a regional center with many historic attractions and noted for its rich culture.

✪ Malatestiana Library

Opened in 1454, the Malatestiana Library (Biblioteca Malatestiana) is the first civic library in Europe and it has been inscribed in the Memory of the World Register by UNESCO. The library is hosted in a historic Renaissance building in the center of Cesena and houses around 400,000 volumes and manuscripts.

✪ Rocca Malatestiana

The Rocca Malatestiana is an imposing fortress located on a hill dominating over Cesena. It was built over some previous fortifications during the Late Middle Ages, under the rule of the Malatesta family. Later, the castle was used as a prison and military barracks. Today the fortress is well preserved and it serves as a museum, hosting exhibitions on the history of agriculture and local archaeology.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is the main square of Cesena and the site of the local market, located under the hill of the Rocca Malatestiana. The center of the square houses the 16th-century Fontana Masini, a fountain with elaborate Mannerist decorations, while the area is surrounded by historic buildings. The southern side hosts the Palazzo Comunale, the town hall of Cesena which dates back to the Middle Ages. This palace includes various frescoed halls and historic pieces of furniture and artworks. Adjacent to Palazzo Comunale are the Loggetta Veneziana and the Rocchetta di Piazza. Both of these are 15th-century fortifications that together host the Museum of Ecology (Museo dell’Ecologia), an exhibition on local flora and fauna.

Cesena Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista (Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista)

The Cesena Cathedral (Duomo di Cesena) is a Romanesque and Gothic church built during the 14th century with many later additions and heavily reworked in the 1950s. The church houses various decorated chapels and interesting artworks.

Walls of Cesena

Some sections of the medieval walls surrounding Cesena survive to this day. Three of the ancient city gates are still standing: Porta Fiume and Porta Montanara are located respectively to the west and south of Rocca Malatestiana, while Porta Santi is at the eastern edge of the city center. The 19th-century Barriera Cavour replaced a previous city gate on the northern side of Cesena.

Ponte Vecchio

Also known as: Ponte Clemente

Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”) is the oldest bridge in Cesena, crossing the river Savio. A first wooden bridge was built here by the Romans, and then it was replaced by a stone structure, which later collapsed. The current bridge was built in the 18th century and it survives to this day despite suffering damages during World War II.

Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte

The Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte (Abbazia di Santa Maria del Monte) is a Benedictine monastery located on a hill overlooking Cesena. The complex was erected in the early 11th century and soon became one of the most important religious sites in the region. The abbey lived its golden age during the Renaissance, when it was adorned with many elaborate frescoes and artworks. Now it is an important center for the restoration of ancient books and it houses a large collection of ex-votos.

Cesenatico

Cesenatico is a city on the Adriatic coast located between Ravenna and Rimini. It was founded in 1302 as a port for Cesena, but it later grew to become a city on its own. Cesenatico is now one of the largest beach resorts of the coast of Romagna, and a major summer destination.

Porto Canale Leonardesco

When Cesenatico was founded as a port on the Adriatic coast, it was planned to be link it with Cesena by digging a 15-km-long canal. However, only a small section was built, which now crosses the entire city. Despite its name, and popular belief, the canal was not designed by Leonardo da Vinci, but the great scholar only surveyed the area and drew the canal in 1502.

Museo della Marineria

The Museo della Marineria is a museum dedicated to the history of seafaring in Cesenatico. It is located in a palace facing the Porto Canale Leonardesco, and it features a few historic ships. Some of these are located in the canal, making this the only floating museum in Italy.

Longiano

Longiano is a small town among the hills of Romagna, located between Cesena and Rimini. The oldest part of the hamlet, located around a historic fortress, still preserves its medieval appearance.

Castello Malatestiano

The Castello Malatestiano is a medieval fortress located on a hill dominating over Longiano. The castle was built around the 11th century and later expanded and decorated by the various local powers who ruled over the town. Now the fortress still features various adorned halls, and it houses the Tito Balestra Foundation (Fondazione Tito Balestra), a collection of modern and contemporary artworks.

Sarsina

Sarsina is a town among the Apennines of Romagna, south of Cesena. It was an Italic settlement before flourishing as a Roman city. Here, the great Roman playwright Plautus was born in 254 BCE. Sarsina declined during the Middle Ages, but it kept some regional importance as a religious center.

Basilica of San Vicinio

Also known as: Sarsina Cathedral (Duomo di Sarsina)

The Basilica of San Vicinio is a Romanesque church built around the 10th century over a previous place of worship. The cathedral dominates over the main square of Sarsina and it features some historic decorations and mosaics. A chapel inside the church houses a collar that was supposedly worn by Saint Vicinius, who was bishop of Sarsina in the 4th century and was famous for its miracles.

National Archaeological Museum of Sarsina

The National Archaeological Museum of Sarsina (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Sarsina) houses a collection of archaeological findings from the area around the city, mostly dating from the Roman age. The exhibition includes various ancient monuments and statues, along with mosaics, objects of daily life, and much more.

Verghereto

Verghereto is a village among the Apennines in the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is noted for its beautiful environment and the proximity to Mount Fumaiolo, famous for being the place from which the river Tiber originates.

Source of the Tiber

The source of the river Tiber, which famously crosses the city of Rome, is located on Mount Fumaiolo, near the town of Verghereto. Among the forests of this mountain, a monument adorned with a Roman eagle marks the spot from which the Tiber originates.