Located in the Po valley along the Via Emilia, the town was founded
by the Romans in the 2nd century b.C. with the name Forum Livii as
a trade centre, at the junction of the consular road with the
Muraglione Pass road leading to Tuscany.
Until around the 13th century Forlì, like all the other
Romagna towns, suffered the rule of a number of invaders, including
the Visigoths, the Byzantines, the Lombards and the Franks, but by
the year 1000 the city proclaimed itself a Republic of Ghibelline
tradition.
Following the fall of the House of Swabia, Guido of Montefeltro
became the Captain of the People of Forlì. Later
Forlì came under the influence of the Ordelaffis who ruled
the town for about two centuries, beautified and fortified it. The
lordship of Caterina Sforza was not long and the lady was succeeded
by Cesare Borgia and later by the Papal States which ruled
Forlì for three centuries. During the Second World War
Forlì suffered destruction and ruin, but was rapidly
reconstructed. Since on, the city provides one of the highest
qualities of life in Italy for its services, culture, art, economic
vivacity and university.
In the historic centre of Forlì can be easily recognized the
two main communication axes of Roman origin divided into four main
avenues (Mazzini, Garibaldi, Diaz and della Repubblica) leading to
Piazza Saffi. Facing Saffi square are some distinguished monuments
from different historical times: the Roman abbey of San Mercuriale
with the powerful original belfry from the 12th century, the much
restored Town Hall from the 14th century with the Clock Tower, the
Gothic Podestà Palace, the 14th century Albertini Palace,
home to interesting exhibitions, and the 20th century Post
Building, an example of Fascist architecture.
Among the monuments are to be seen the Clock Tower, the Cathedral,
the Carmelite Church, the Town Art Gallery with the Hebe by Canova,
the Oratory of San Sebastiano and the Sforza Fortress of
Ravaldino.
The Municipality is bounded on the south-east by the
municipality of Forlimpopoli, on the north by the municipality of
Faenza and on the west by the municipality of Castrocaro Terme and
Terra del Sole. Forlì is served by a railway station on the
Bologna-Ancona train line and by comfortable bus lines connecting
the city with all the centres of the surroundings and the sea-side
resorts of the Adriatic coast.