FORLI Emilia - Romagna Forlì - Cesena TAPPA 25 - FORLI - CUSERCOLI KM 28,3 +360-270 E Forlì, in Latin Forum Livii, (also called Forlivio, Furlè (in old Italian) was one of the Roman market towns that dotted the Via Aemilia connecting Piacenza with Rimini. It is the Capital of the Forlì-Cesena Province in the Romagna regional district. Forlì is also the linguistic centre of the distinctive Romagnolo dialect. It was part of Ostrogoth Kingdom, then a part of the Byzantine Empire with Ravenna, until in the 6th century, with the intervention of Pipin the Short, king of the Franks, as a consequence of the False Donation of Constatine assigning the district to the patrimony of St Peter and remained such until the unification of Italy in 1861. The most important monument of the city is the church of St Mercuriale, of the 12th century, built on the site of the earlier cathedral of St Stefano. The bell tower in Lombard style was designed by Francesco Deddi in 1178, but restored in later periods. Inside the church there are numerous works of art, among them paintings by Palmezzano. Other points of interest in the city are Piazza Saffi, Corso Diaz, Corso Garibaldi, Via Maroncelli, Piazza Ordelaffi, the Duomo and the Prefecture Palace. 1
Forlì Cusercoli 2
With this stage we begin an itinerary which will take us gradually to a hilly and then mountainous area, culminating with the Apennines ridge and a descent into Tuscany. From the city centre of Forlì we return to the Via Emilia up to the Church of Ronco; we cross the road before the bridge to get to the embankment of the Ronco river and flow it with all its meanders among luxuriant vegetation, typical of the Mediterranean bush with its variegated fauna, 3
all cared for in view of a not too distant future when the area will be declared a Nature Reserve. After 700m we ford the stream called Sanguinario, actually a drainage canal collecting the waste water from the nearby airport. On the right we may notice a number of ponds caused by quarrying sand, and today a playground for sportive fishermen. Beyond we see a good golf course. 4
Passed the third pond we carry on walking along the embankment and we will come to a site, where we shall cross the river to the left and walk along the unpaved road to the right, which we then leave in order to walk again on the embankment for 1,5 Km passing under the Provincial Highway SP37 and to go right for 400m, left on the Via Molino Selbagnone 5
and walk for 700m to take to right the unpaved road rising gently to take us, in 700m, to the Provincial Highway SP99, which we will cross and continue straight on for 200m till Via Fratta up to the Parish of Bertinoro Civil Protection Centre (CENTRO DI PROTEZIONE CIVILE DI BERTINORO). A tourist information and help centre for walkers in need of assistance. We are now above the Spa of Fratta Terme. 6
Continuing along Via Fratta, uphill, we shall come to the ridge separating the valleys of the Ronco and of Fratta Terme, which we shall leave behind walking among vineyards, and villas for about 2 Km when we arrive at a three way crossroad. At less than 1 Km to the left, there is an excellent refreshments place (La Brocca); 7
we shall, carry on straight ahead for 300 m then we shall go downhill to the right for 1 Km to reach the road to Teodorano, 8
we turn right and in 1 Km we shall be at Meldola. We shall then cross the bridge Ponte dei Veneziani. 9
we turn right and in 1 Km we shall be at Meldola. We shall then cross the bridge Ponte dei Veneziani. Meldola 10
MELDOLA Archaeological remains, tell of a prehistoric settlement, During the Roman period the area of Meldola was crossed by an aqueduct which still crosses the town below ground. It was destined to provide freshwater to the military harbour of Classe (Ravenna), 40 km away. At the time of the Longobards the Abbey of St Columbanus of Bobbio founded a monastery in the name of the Irish saint. Things to see : The wood of Scardavilla: a monastic site whose buildings are still extant (including the oldest core of Scardavilla di Sotto, and the more recent Scardavilla di Sopra) with the 18th century church. The loggia of the Aldobrandini, interesting example of a two storics Renaissance loggia, in the piazza dedicated to Felice Orsini. The bridge of the Venetians, with five arches, built in the early 165th century. The Keep of Meldola, perched on a high rock overlooking the town. Probably built around 1000, the Rocca was of the Montefeltro Dukes then of the Ordelaffi, and finally of the Malatesta. A military defense it later became the private residence of Leonello Pio da Carpi. 11
Passed the bridge of the Venetians, we turn left and after 500 m, in case one wishes to visit the town, we shall take Via Cavour on the right, or otherwise left to Via Indipendenza which we follow up to Istituzione Davide Drudi, then Via Rimbocca Ca Baccagli, left. 12
Following this road, taking its bypass at the first crossing, again turning left and on to the bridge over the Ronco, which is now called Bidente. Over the bridge along the tarmac road for 2 Km uphill, we may arrive at Castelnuovo and at the Agritourist hotel Le Vigne, with a fine view over the valley and also good food (booking ahead), beyond we go down on the river 13
or otherwise, soon after the bridge, on the right, we take the footpath along the river to the next bridge where we find the road descending to Castelnuovo; 10 km on we turn right, 14
The path along the river Bidente, after the bridge, it is not always easy praticable, so as to avoid problems we recommend you from Rimbocca Ca Baccagli to continue on Via di Mezzo road (orange track), than to turn right onto Strada San Colombano-Castelnuovo, cross the SP4, enter and pass through the town San Colombano and return on SP4, where you turn right and follow the bike-path up to the roundabout. Then you can get the left pedestrian path toward Ricò and get to the reunion with the green coloured track. 15
ending under the bridge of the State Highway SS4; we passe under the bridge and we go up to left, then to right for 400m to arrive over SP4; we turn to right and, taking to traffic, we advance for 1,3km; we turn still to right, we go over bridge crossing the river 16
we turn to left, then to left and we follow the river long the embankment: 3km and we arrive to Cusercoli. SP4 17
Cusercoli 18