Of every city of Romagna, Cesena is the most secret one.
(Sergio Zavoli, I giorni della meraviglia, 1994)

Cesena is right in the heart of Emilia Romagna and it develops on the historic Via Aemilia; it is a city halfway between the blue of the sea and the green of nature, behind a green line of hills rich of vineyards and fruit gardens.

It is historically renowned as “the city of the three popes”, even if this nickname is a bit of a stretch.

Today it is a very dynamic hub, marked by a cuisine that has its roots deep in the Romagna tradition and by a modern and dynamic University Campus.

Cesena might not be the first tourism destination of Romagna, but it has its own beauty and cultural appeal. The city is representative of historical artistic and environmental values that are not second to any other city of the region.

Its characteristic scorpion-shaped city centre is one of the most intact ones of all Romagna and it is crowded by clubs and bars that, as soon as the sun sets, are animated by warm voices and joyous laughter, being proof of genuine amusement and wellbeing.

Cesena welcomes the river Savio from the Tuscan-Romagnol Apennines, which, flowing towards the Adriatic Sea, passes through the modern residential area.

The ancient city centre is not far from there: it is rich of buildings that tell a century-old story. Even if the city is much older, it mainly praises the government of the city during the years of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.

Under the Signoria of the Malastestas (1378 – 1465), Cesena enjoyed a period of splendour, which gave the city the present aspect and that, despite the passing of time, is unchanged still today.

The Malatestas designed the residential area and its walls, which are still visible in their entirety, but, most of all, they worked to rebuild the fortress. The fortress dominates the city from the top of the Hill Garampo and it is one of the best-preserved and biggest fortresses of Romagna.

Piazza del Popolo, Cesena | Photo by Racoonlab

All year round, live music, food and drink events, as well as cultural events invade the streets of this friendly city that is always invaded by whirling joy.

Among these are the festival A cielo aperto, the international festival of street food®, the festival Piazze di Cinema dedicated to the Art Week and the dancing parties inside Teatro Verdi. Moreover, great amusing events are the country festivals and the traditional initiatives, such as the Fiera di San Giovanni (June 24th) linked to the patron saint of the city.

Last but not least, every visitor has absolutely to stop in one of the several restaurants of the city centre or at one of the many eateries spread throughout the city, where piadina and crescioni are served fresh-cooked and hot. You cannot miss them, as they are the universal symbol of the Romagna food tradition.