Visit Italy > Emilia-Romagna > Cesena
Visit Cesena
Cesena is an ancient city of Romagna, to the right of the Savio River, in a wide and fertile plain, which now has approximately 88,000 inhabitants.
Malatesta Library
A visit to Cesena can only start from the Malatesta Library, built by Novello Malatesta in 1447 to a plan by Matteo Nuti (who completed the building in 1452). The library, which contains over 300 manuscripts, is located on the top floor of the old Franciscan monastery, where the Historical Museum of Antiquities is situated - it has the formal structure of a basilica, with three naves, divided by 12 columns and capitals carrying the emblem of the Malatesta Family, an Indian “little” elephant, and underneath a short Latin phrase, "Elephas Indus culices non timet," or "The Indian elephant is not afraid of mosquitoes," - the 'mosquitoes' were the enemies of the Malatesta Family, haughtily regarded only as annoying insects.
The wooden door of the Library was inlaid by the cabinet-maker Cristoforo from San Giovanni in Persiceto while above it there is the Indian elephant of the Malatesta Family. Among the most precious manuscripts are the 13th century Illuminated Bible and the precious 'Etymologies' of St. Isidore (560-636), the oldest manuscripts owned by the Library (7th century). Among the manuscripts there is also the work of the illuminators from Ferrara, the "Sermones in Evangelium Johannis" by St. Augustine (354-430). In the refectory there are some frescoes with scenes representing The Crucifixion, The Last Supper, and St Francis receiving the Stigmata, perhaps by Bartolomeo from Foligno.
Other Cesena Highlights
In the "Historical Museum of Antiquities”, are collected pottery fragments, everyday objects, dating from the 14th to the 16th century; and some remains that illustrate the geological history of the prehistoric phases of Cesena. In the showcase number ten there are some finds from the Roman age divided by gender, household tools and weapons and armours.
An important stop in Cesena is the Piazza del Popolo, where you also find the Palazzo Comunale, built by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz [1310-1367] from 1359 to 1362. On the right side of the City Hall stands the Rocchetta di Piazza, a fortress more than twenty meters high and now the seat of the Natural Sciences Museum. In front of the Tower is St. Anne's Church (consecrated in 1664), designed by Pier Mattia Angeloni.
The Piazza del Popolo was formerly called Piazza Maggiore, and was where Galeotto Malatesta made this square the heart of the city with markets and tournaments. At its centre is located one of the most interesting sights: the 'Masini Fountain' built in Istrian stone and attributed to Francesco Masini (1530-1603). The fountain stands with three steps on the level of the square, while at the centre of the basin is the hydraulic machine, gushing with symbols and figures in relief. In the same square is also the Town Hall, built by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz (1357) where some paintings can still be seen from the 15th century, attributed to Pietro Giacomo da Forli.
Note also the fortress, dating back to Byzantine rule, which was restored by Galeotto Malatesta in 1377 and then continued by Carlo and Novello Malatesta. The cathedral (along Corso Mazzini) in Gothic style, was built at the end of the 14th century: the interior has three naves, with a the 16th century wooden crucifix; the aisle to the left is the Chapel of Madonna of the People, in Baroque style and coated with precious marbles and a triptych marble by Lorenzo Bregno (1514).
Among the major buildings of the 17th century, to visit is the St. Domenico Church which possesses some extraordinary works of painting. Remarkable also is the St. Augustine Church (1520), which outside has pilaster strips and buttresses which stand out in white stones on the brick. The interior has a longitudinal plan with three chapels on each side. The intersection of the nave with the transept is resolved in a grand plan octagonal platform. The church had many paintings that have gone missing, except the 'Disputation on the Immaculate Conception' (Brera).
Another highlight is the Servi Church, probably dating back to the 1st half of the 13th century. It was the subject of several restorations and was then rebuilt in full by Pietro Carlo Borboni (between 1756 and 1765). The façade, made of brick, is marked by a series of paired pilasters. Along with the paintings in the church is a 17th-century 'Annunciation' by Livio Modigliani (1540-1610).
Among the civic buildings are the 18th century Palace of the Congregation in Neoclassical style; and Palazzo Ghini (1680) by P.M. Angeloni (active in the XVII Century), with a brick façade, four rows of windows, a portal to the centre and edges in Istrian stone. Inside there is a picture by Giacomo Bolognini [1664-1734] called 'The Triumph of Venus'.
Outside the town walls of Cesena there are some very interesting artefacts, such as the Abbazia della Madonna del Monte (XII century), which houses paintings of the highest level, such as the 16th century decorations by Gerolamo Longhi and paintings by Francesco Francia, Bartolomeo Coda and Francesco Zagarella. In the nearby 'Church of the Observance' is an extraordinary work by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called the “Guercino” (1591-1666), “The Ectasy of St. Francis”.
See separate article for the history of Cesena
Cesana Cuisine
A tour around Cesena also offers an opportunity to pause in some restaurants and to enjoy the traditional cuisine of Romagna between Forlì and Cesena.
Among the first courses try the pasta in broth, 'cappelletti' (soup or dry, in this case served with meat sauce, or with cream, cheese and ham), noodles and lasagne. Other types of pasta are the typical strozzapreti served with meat sauce, and the passatelli in broth. As for main courses, we find pork served in various ways, mixed grill, grilled meat, and roast, each typical of the area, especially the hills.
There is a widespread local use of sausages and meats derived from pork, especially ham, salami, “mortadella”, “coppa” and salted pork, accompanied by the famous “piadina” and a good glass of red wine. In some traditional taverns it is still possible to enjoy frogs or snails (breaded and fried or stewed.) All this, of course, must be served with local wines, the Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Cagnina, Albana and, finally, the Pagadebit.
Note: photo credit
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