Places to visit in Forli

Forli Airport serves as a gateway to the fascinating region of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, and although only a smaller Italian airport, a number of it’s passengers are tourists coming to explore the city of Forli and it’s surrounding areas. Forli is perhaps not the most famous of Italian cities, but has a number of interesting attractions, including medieval buildings, museums and religious buildings. Forli attractions include a few lovely parks of greenery as well, and the town could be an ideal location for a quiet Italian holiday. Forli Airport is a good arrival point as well from where to explore some of the coastal cities nearby, and for attractions in Bologna.

Forli is located to the south of Ravenna, to the north-west of Rimini and Cesena, to the south-east of Bologna and Faenza and to the north-east of Florence and Prato. It is a commune of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, as well as the capital city of the province of Forli-Cesena (FC). Easy access to the city is provided by the Via Emilia, or the SS9 road that runs through the towns of Cesena, Faenza and Imola towards Bologna, and by the A14, running parallel to the Via Emilia, and to Bologna in the north and to all coastal areas along the eastern side of the country, such as Rimini, Pesaro and Ancona. Forli is located to right of the Montone river and also in the Po Valley region of Italy, and is considered to be an important agricultural centre. In recent years it’s population has been counted at just over 115,000.

The main central square of Forli is known as the Piazza Aurelio Saffi, and here a number of Forli attractions can be found. Important buildings like the town hall are found here, as well as the Abbazia di San Mercuriale and the Palazzo delle Poste. The Abbazia di San Mercuriale is considered as a Forli landmark, and was built on the remains of a church which suffered from fire in 1173. The building was completed in 1180, and the church was named after Saint Mercurialis, a bishop of the city who died in the fifth century. The church suffered damage in the WWII, but it has since been restored to it’s former pre-war state. One of it’s features is a tower with a height of 75 metres, which makes it one of the highest in Italy. Public viewings take place over weekends. The Palazzo delle Poste is a building from 1932, and was built during fascist times. At the Piazza Aurelio Saffi there is also a market that is held quite regularly, featuring the sale of all sorts of food items, such as fish and cheese, as well as clothing and household items.

The Piazzale della Vittoria is another important square in the city of Forli, and is linked to many of the main roads of the city, including the Viale della Liberta that leads to the train station. This square is also considered as an entry point to the old town area. Important aspects of the Piazzale della Vittoria is the monument dedicated to the victims of WWI, found in the centre and from 1932. The buildings located nearby contribute to Forli’s somewhat strange appearance, as some are in true Renaissance style while others are of fascist architecture. This Piazzale is also the place where many of the local buses can be found, as all lines stop at this station.

Further buildings of interest in Forli include the Rocca di Ravaldino, a fourteenth century fortress, the Palazzo del Podestà frescoed by Adolfo de Carolis in the twentieth century and the Palazzo Paulucci Piazza. This is a palace that was inspired by the Lateran Palace in Rome, and dates back to the seventeenth century, however, it was never completely finished as the palace it was intended to be. Later it served as a school, then as a court building and finally it is used as seat of the prefecture. The Rivaldino Fortress is quite an interesting Forli attraction. It is thought to have been built sometime around 1360 for the purpose of defending the town, and has been reconstructed several times during it’s existence. It also features a complicated hydraulics system that was mentioned by Niccolò Machiavelli.

Churches to be admired in Forli include the Oratoria di San Sebastiano, completed in 1502 and which is described as an early renaissance church. Although a church building, today it is not used for religious purposes, but rather for various art exhibitions that take place during the year. The Church of San Domenico is a late medieval church visited by many tourists, and was built in the thirteenth century. It is found in the southern part of the town. Forli Museums include the Museum of Romagna Theatre located at Palazzo Gaddi, and the Museo del Risorgimento, located nearby. The first mentioned houses various types of musical instruments and other memorabilia of the theatre of Forli that was destroyed during times of war. A collection of artwork and sculptures can be seen at the Pinacoteca houses as well.

Green areas of note in Forli include the Parco della Resistenza and the Parco di Via Dragoni. The Parco della Resistenza has two entrances, one on Viale Spazzoli and another in Piazzale della Vittoria. Bikes can be hired at the square entrance for exploring this wonderful city park. The second park is a good place to go for outdoor activities, as it is equipped with bicycle paths, a roller rink, a skatepark, volley and basket ball courts, a soccer pitch and a children’s play area. It also features an arena where outdoor performances are sometimes held.

Further details for Forli attractions can be found at the various tourist centres located in the town and at Forli Airport.