This calm town in Emilia-Romagna has a 15th-century fortress, Rocca Malatestiana, and local wine bars serving regional specialties. The historic center includes the San Giovanni Battista church.
Cesena, a city of 97,000 people in Emilia-Romagna, holds several unique landmarks. You can visit Europe's first public library, the 15th-century Biblioteca Malatestiana, walk through the medieval Rocca Malatestiana fortress with its distinctive twin towers, or climb to the Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte. The city's main square, Piazza del Popolo, contains the detailed marble Masini Fountain from 1588 and buildings dating back to the Malatesta family rule.
Exploring the Malatestiana Library
The Biblioteca Malatestiana, built in 1452, maintains its original 15th-century layout, with wooden benches and 343 hand-written books still chained to the shelves. The books, written in Greek and Latin, cover topics from military tactics to philosophy. UNESCO added this medieval library to the Memory of the World Register. You'll need to book a guided tour to see the reading room - two separate keys unlock its heavy wooden door.
Inside the Rocca Malatestiana Fortress
Two distinct towers rise above the city - the taller maschio (male) and the shorter foemina (female). Cardinal Albornoz began building the fortress in 1380. Throughout its history, the fortress served as a military stronghold and prison, where Cesare Borgia once held Caterina Sforza. Today, you'll find an agricultural museum in the maschio tower, while the fortress walls give you clear views to the Adriatic Sea.
Local Food Specialties
Locals make piadina, a flatbread, on terracotta pans from nearby Montetiffi. Try it in restaurants with prosciutto, soft squacquerone cheese, and arugula. The city's version of cappelletti pasta has its own character - chefs fill it with cheese instead of the meat common in other towns. In the surrounding hills, vineyards produce Sangiovese and Albana wines.
Getting Around Cesena
Trains run between Cesena, Bologna, and Ancona on the main railway line. You can walk to most places in the compact historic center, though reaching the Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte involves an uphill walk. Bicycle paths crisscross the city, making cycling an easy option for exploring.
Cultural Events Throughout the Year
During the San Giovanni Festival in June, craft makers and food vendors fill Piazza del Popolo. In summer, you can watch films under the stars at the Piazze di Cinema festival. The Teatro Alessandro Bonci, built in 1846 following the design of Milan's La Scala, runs opera and theater performances year-round.
The Abbey on the Hill
The 11th-century Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte houses Europe's largest collection of ex-votos - more than 700 wooden votive tablets, with some paintings dating back 500 years. Inside, you'll see Giuseppe Milani's painted dome. From the abbey grounds, you can look out over Cesena's red roofs and the surrounding countryside.
