Cesena: city of the Malatestas

Biblioteca Malatestiana a Cesena | © Archivio IAT Cesena

Considered to be one of the most important artistic gems in Romagna, it lies between Ravenna, Forlì, the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines mountains.

Originally a Roman city, Cesena became a free town during the Middle Ages, and at the end of the 1300s it flourished under the Malatesta dynasty and saw the founding of the Malatestiana library.

Set up in 1452 by the Lord of Cesena Malatesta Novello, the Biblioteca Malatestiana was the first public library in Italy and has been recognised by UNESCO as a “Memory of the World” for the architectural value of the building and for texts it contains.

When visiting Cesena, be sure to take a stroll through the bustling streets of the old town, including Piazza del Popolo and its elegant Masini fountain, Palazzo del Ridotto, the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, the chapel of Madonna del Popolo, the museum of the cathedral, and the magnificent neoclassical Alessandro Bonci Theatre.

Cesena’s cultural offering also includes the museum of natural sciences, the municipal art gallery, the archaeological museum and the Museo della Centuriazione, telling the story of how the Romans organised the land.

There is so much more to tell you about this city but we would love you to book your next holiday on the Adriatic Riviera and come see it for yourself!

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