Forlì

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Forlì is part of Emilia Romagna, a region between the River Po (north), the Apennine Mountains (west and south) and the Adriatic Sea (east). Emilia Romagna's provinces are Bologna (the capital), Ferrara, Forli-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia, and Rimini. The region also sits on the border with the third-smallest country in Europe, the Republic of San Marino.

This is the land of Verdi’s novels and Giovanni Pascoli’s poetry, as well as Fellini’s unmistakable cinema. Two national parks, 14 regional parks and 11 regional reserves offer sport and leisure to nature lovers who want to enjoy cycling, horseback riding, kayaking and trekking.  Birdwatching in the Four Towns Coastal Oasis is also very popular.

Forlì lies southeast from Bologna (75 km away), southwest from Ravenna (ca. 30 km), and northwest of Cesena (ca. 20 km) and Rimini (45 km). Florence is also a ca. 100 km drive away across the Apennines (trains through Faenza and Bologna) and Perugia is only ca. 125 km south. The capital of the Forlì -Cesena province has a population of 118,600.

There are important archaeological sites nearby, and the Etruscans inhabited the Forlì plain possibly for hundreds of years before the ancient Romans founded Forum Livii—the meeting place for the Livii (family)—in 188 BC along the Via Aemilia, one of the Romans’ ancient motorways, running from Rimini to Piacenza.

When the Roman Empire collapsed, Forlì came under the rule of the Ostrogoth’s and eventually the Holy Roman Emperors. The city's first liberation took place in the 11th century, and it was a free municipality until 1480, under the rule of the Ordelaffi family. Back under papal dominance, in 1500 Duke Valentino, Cesare Borgia, took it from Caterina Sforza and held it for a short while.

The setting for important "Carbonari" activities, in 1859 it was annexed to the Savoy monarchy and was fertile ground for the creation of various political organizations. Mussolini was born in the province and throughout the twenty years of fascism it was transformed into the città del Duce. Heavy bombing largely devastated the city during WW2.

The Piazza Aurelio Saffi, at the heart of the old city, includes the Abbey of San Mercuriale. Other medieval buildings include the Rocca di Ravaldino, a fortress enlarged in the 14th century. The city also hosts the Palazzo Hercolani, and the Palazzo del Podestà. There are also many examples of Rationalist architecture from the Fascist period.

The city has many museums, including the Museo de San Domenico, A. Santarelli Archaeological Museum, the Civic Painting Gallery, the Pergoli Romagna Ethnographic Museum, the Aurelio Saffi Risorgimento Museum and the Romagna Theatre Museum.

Forlì´s many parks include the Parco della Resistenza ("Resistance Park") city park, the Parco di Via Dragoni, and the Parco Urbano, where swans and ducks, rabbits and squirrels freely roam around among oaks, poplars, thorn threes and roses.

Download a map of Forlì.

By now you may have decided that you might want to stay a little longer to visit and enjoy some free time after working hard at the school. You do not need to go far away to do so. The hinterland features several wellness spas, like Castrocaro Terme and Terra del Sole, Bagno di Romagna and Bertinoro. You may also want to go to the seaside, to  the Romagna Riviera, especially the close coastal villages of Cervia and Cesenatico.