La via dei Romei 

Forlì is located at the meeting point of two roads from Central Italy stretching through the Montone and Rabbi river valleys. Worth a visit is the Basilica di San Mercuriale, founded in the 9^th century as a Benedictine Monastery on the place where the first bishop Mercuriale had been buried. The church was rebuilt over the years 1178-1235 with a three-nave shape and later on enlarged at the end of the 15^th and in the 16^th century. During the 6^th decade of the 12^th century the church came under the Vallombrosan Order. 

Taking the national road SS67, at about 10 km from Forlì, you reach the old town of Castrocaro Terme. On their route, pilgrims arrived at the Fortress, a majestic castle which is considered one of the most beautiful examples of medieval fortified architecture.

Modigliana boasts an eventful history and has been home to Counts Guidi since the 10^th century. Dating from the time of pilgrims is a Fortress  the so-called "Roccaccia", of which only ruins remain today and the Praetorian Palace built in the 12^th century by Counts Guidi.

Going on for about 10 km, you reach another charming old village: Tredozio. Its most important building is the Pieve di San Michele that was built in the 12^th century and was already well known at the time of "Romei" pilgrims.

Setting off from Forlì, the Romei pilgrims might also travel another route throughout the Bidente river valley. Today (the current national road is Bidente 310), as it was the case in the past, the first town along the road is Meldola. Meldola dates back to Roman time. It had a "Castrum Meldule", a small fort on which the Lord of Rimini Malatesta Novello had a portion of the Fortress built in the 15^th century.

Following the national road Bidente 310, at about 25 km from Forlì, you reach Cusercoli. The town’s Fortress was already known in the 11^th century.

Passing Cusercoli, at about 30 km from Forlì, the Bidente Valley widens and is dominated by the town of Galeata. The Praetorian Palace hosts the Civic Museum where you can admire archaeological finds discovered in that area and in the old town of "Mevaniola".

Three kilometres from Galeata stands the Chiesa di Sant'Ellero. From the 5^th century onwards, the church belonged to famous St Ellero monastery. The building served as an important shelter for wayfarers and pilgrims.

Santa Sofia stands on the opposite bank of the Bidente river, at about 40 km from Forlì. Walking through the oldest part of the village you reach the houses built on the ramparts of the old castle. Then pilgrims arrived at Bagno di Romagna, crossing the High Valley of Savio River. On this spot, the Route of Romei from Forlì merged with the one from Cesena. Following the current national road 71 of the Savio River Valley from Bagno di Romagna, you climb up to the mountain pass Passo dei Mandrioli and reach the Tuscany region.

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The Route of Romei in the Emilia-Romagna region

Religious Hospitality in Forlì