Cesena Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Cesena

Cesena is an Italian municipality located in the Emilia-Romagna region, serving alongside Forlì as a joint capital of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. Situated near the base of the Apennine Mountains and approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) inland from the Adriatic Sea, the city has a population of 97,137. Its local economy relies on fruit and vegetable agriculture, food processing, industrial and construction equipment manufacturing, banking, and tourism.

The city's history extends to ancient times, originating as an Umbrian or Etruscan settlement before passing to the Gauls and later becoming a Roman garrison town in the third century BC. Pliny praised the quality of its wine before the town was destroyed in wars between Gaius Marius and Sulla. Granted to the Papacy in 754, Cesena endured centuries of territorial disputes among popes, Holy Roman Emperors, and local rulers, including a period as a communal republic in the late twelfth century.

A major period of prosperity occurred under the Malatesta family between 1379 and 1465, during which the city's castle was rebuilt. Cesena later briefly served as the capital of Cesare Borgia's duchy in 1500 before returning to the Papal States. Known as the "city of the three popes," it was the birthplace of Popes Pius VI and Pius VII and served as the bishopric for Pope Pius VIII. In the twentieth century, the town suffered significant bombing during World War II due to its location along the Gothic Line.

Cesena features notable architectural and historic attractions. The octagonal Malatestian Fortress overlooks the city with its two primary towers, known as the maschio and foemina. Near the castle is the historic Malatestiana Library, built in 1429; recognized as the first public library in Europe and a UNESCO Memory of the World site, it preserves valuable manuscripts. Other prominent landmarks include the Piazza del Popolo, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, the Abbey of St Maria del Monte, Palazzo Ghini, and the Alessandro Bonci Theater.

Art and culture are displayed in venues such as the Pinacoteca Comunale, housed in a former Benedictine monastery, and an art collection in a former Celestine monastery. In 2015, the city gained international attention when 1,000 musicians performed at Parco Ippodromo to successfully invite the Foo Fighters to play at the Carisport indoor arena.

Transport to Cesena is facilitated by the Autostrada A14 and the local train station, opened in 1861 along the Bologna–Ancona line. Air travel is supported by Federico Fellini International Airport, 39 kilometers (24 miles) to the southeast, and Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, located 94 kilometers (58 miles) to the northwest.