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Romagna under the sun
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 Cesena
Where the Malatestas ruled
(E/45: km 44)
Chief town of the Province together with Forlì, Cesena is an educated, hardworking and hospitable town. Economically lively, Cesena is the capital city of vegetable and fruit - produced in the fertile surrounding plane - daily delivered to the Italian and European markets. Cesena rises only a few kilometres from the sea and from the mountains.
Quality shopping is possible in the pretty shops and in the market held every two weeks. In the historical centre, visitors can follow traces and see curiosities, possibly tasting the traditional and inimitable "piada romagnola": a traditional local dish. Valdoca is a quarter decorated by its typical porticoes and charming "minor" architectures. Piazza del Popolo is a scenic square. Above, the Park is crossed by communication trenches belonging to the sixteenth century Rocca Malatestiana where events and concerts take place in the summer. Either the ancient Pescheria or the 10 museums are worth a visit since they represent the lively local cultural life.
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 Theatre "Bonci", a Neoclassic building, is owned by the Commune. The Cathedral is a late gothic building. The Bib-lioteca Malatestiana, jewel of the fifteenth century architecture, is the ancient public library and is now among the most famous libraries in Europe for its valiable illuminated codices. The Ippodromo del Savio is one of the most internationally renown hippodromes traditionally visited by people keen on horses or simple tourists.
At 2 km from the centre, the Abbey of St Maria del Monte rises on a hilltop surmounting the plane. It gathers one of the most important collections of ex voto pictures: a thousand painted tablets bear witness of popular devotion.
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 Ravenna
The most beautiful mosaics in the world
(km 80)
In less than an hour the comfortable E 45 leads to Ravenna sheltering the most beautiful mo-saics of gold in the world: the western and eastern Byzantine styles blended here. Ravenna can be seen at great distance thanks to its bell-towers made of red bricks and decorated by windows. The town is surrounded by the plane divided into fields that were once under the sea: the sea and the land together remind of Venice. The town is surrounded (north and south) by the Pine wood (Pineta) loved by Dante and Byron, and now a regional natural reserve. The Pineta and the Punta Alberete Oases - the only inundated forest in Italy - are included in the complex of the Delta del Po Regional Park.
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 Ravenna has many basilicas, scarcely decorated outside, but sheltering the most refined marble relives and invaluable museum collection: extraordinary masterpieces, full of suggestions, lights and incomparable colours made by the use of gold in mosaics. The Mausoleo di Galla Placidia has a small museum; the Basilica of St Vitale is one of the most amazing creations of Pa-leo-Christian art. The imposing Basilicas of St Apollinare Nuovo and St Apollinare in Classe are entirely covered by polychrome mosaics. Battistero degli Ariani and Neoniano are charming visits that cannot be missed.
Among many famous monuments (Dante’s Grave, Mausoleo di Teodorico, etc.) the grave of Guidarello Guidarelli in the Accademia is particularly famous: the pale young man is so attractive that many women lean to kiss the marble. |
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 S. Marino
The blue vision
(Bagno - S. Marino: E/45 to Cesena, thence A/14 towards Rimini nord: 114 km)
The "blue vision of San Marino" can be enjoyed everywhere from the Romagna seaside belt. The state has a great geographical and architectural relevance and rises on a rocky mountain whose outline can unmistakably be identified from Romagna to Marche. The free Republic of San Marino is the most ancient in Europe and the smallest in the world (61 sq km). Thousands of tourists visit the unique state for the museums, continuous events, parades and festivals. Hundreds of shops face the winding and steep roads in the centre selling pottery, wines, jewels, souvenirs, spirits, playing-cards, stamps, coins, domestic and foreign tobaccos, and so on. |
 But a wonderful view is commanded from Titato Mount, where the Rocche (Rocks) rise. The imposing fortresses are on the three tops of the mountain and are connected by walls and communication trenches leading to the fortified town below surrounded by three circles of walls. Gates, ramparts and towers interrupt the walls. The rocks are not threatening, because they were simply used to defend the freedom of this small and ancient State.
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The Tiber Valley and Piero della Francesca
Sansepolcro
Città di Castello
Anghiari
Monterchi
Arezzo
Hermitages and Monasteries
Camaldoli
La Verna
Romagna under the sun
Cesena
Ravenna
S.Marino |
