Officially called Province of Forli-Cesena, Forlì is a province of pretty towns and vibrant cities in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. With excellent museums, world-class theaters and spectacular countryside, Forlì has attractions to suit all tastes. Admire grandiose palaces in a lively city, enjoy the sleepy atmosphere of a village town and sip on fine wines.
The provincial capital city, also called Forlì, is a showcase of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. Four Roman roads converge at the elegant central square, Piazza Aurelio Saffi. Marvel at the Basilica of San Mercuriale and 13th-century Palazzo Comunale. Browse art by Italian masters at the San Domenico Museum and Pinacoteca Comunale, both housed inside a 13th-century convent.
Travel south along the ancient Roman road of Via Emilia to Cesena, where concerts and exhibitions about rural life in Romagna take place at Rocca Malatestiana fortress. The Biblioteca Malatestiana is one of the world’s last surviving medieval chained libraries. Attend classic and contemporary performances at Teatro Comunale Alessandro Bonci and Teatro Verdi. The cafés, ice cream parlors and pizzerias on Piazza del Popolo are perfect for a break from sightseeing.
Bertinoro is a fine example of a medieval citadel and has views that stretch over scenic hills to the Adriatic Sea. Walk in the footsteps of Pellegrino Artusi, the author of the acclaimed cookbook Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well, in Forlimpopoli. Sample Sangiovese red wines at the wineries in and around Predappio. The Forlì Cesena Wine Routeis a 151-mile (243-kilometer) long culinary route in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains.
Get active along the hiking trails of Parco Nazionale Foreste Casentinesi, which straddles the regional border with Tuscany.
It’s easy to reach Forlì and Cesena by train from Bologna, Milan and Rimini. Use public buses to get to the province’s smaller towns and villages. Alternatively, rent a car and drive through the picturesque valleys at your own pace.