Car Rental Forli

The medieval town of Forli in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna has been strongly affected by the events before and during the Second World War. For example, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini had the city walls demolished to make way for wide access roads. At the end of the war Forlì suffered heavily from Allied bombing. Yet some historical sites remain in the city.

The Piazza Aurelio Saffi forms the heart of the city. On this square you can find the most important religious building of Forlì, the Abbey of San Mercuriale, with a bell tower of 75 meters high. Of the original church just the marble portal remains in the facade. Inside you'll notice the Venetian floor from the fourteenth century and the beautiful tomb of Barbara Manfredi. The Sacrament Chapel is decorated with frescoes from the fourteenth century and paintings from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century.

The Duomo at the Piazza del Duomo originally dates back to the twelfth century, but was substantially rebuilt several times. The current neoclassical facade was added in the nineteenth century. The woodcarving depicting Madonna on the altar was made in the fourteenth century.

Situated in the south of the city is the medieval Church of San Domenico. Napoleon used the complex as a military storage depot towards the end of the nineteenth century. Thereafter the church deteriorated heavily. The complex has been restored recently and it now houses a museum in which temporary exhibitions or religious art are held.

Furthermore, there is a medieval fortress Rocca di Ravaldino in Forlì, and you can admire frescoes from the nineteenth century in Palazzo Hercolani.

The Museo Romagnolo del Teatro has an interesting collection of musical instruments, especially various types of harps that were made in Romagna. Here you can view old posters and relics donated by the tenor Angelo Masini and Soprano Maria Farneti, who were both born in Forlì.

In and around Forlì

The Franciscan Monastery in Pianetto houses the Museo Civico Mambrini di Galeata. It is both a historical and an archaeological museum with interesting finds from the area. Visitors are going back in time through multimedia presentations.

Not far from the town of Forlì lies the place Predappio, the birthplace of Benito Mussolini. In the twenties and thirties of the last century, the fascist dictator had large parts of Predappio destroyed to make way for Fascist architecture: wide boulevards and impressive buildings. Not pretty, but historical.

The Emilia-Romagna region invites to making tours by rental car. For example to the seaside resorts of the Adriatic, like Ravenna and Rimini. Apart from beaches these cities have other attractions too. Ravenna is famous for its ancient mosaic art in the churches and in Rimini you can see remains of the Romans, like the Arch of Augustus, the Ponte di Tiberio and the amphitheater. The beautiful historical city of Bologna is not far from Forlì either.

In the forested mountains near Casentino you can make beautiful treks (by foot or by horse). Various routes have been plotted over the Apennines.

Parking

It is not hard to find your way in Forlì with a rental car, and finding a parking space shouldn't pose a problem either, with exception of the heart of the town perhaps. In a blue zone limited parking times apply and you have to use a parking disc. Vietato parcheggiare means: 'No Parking'.

Airport

Forlì Airport (also known as Forlì-Bologna Airport or Luigi Ridolfi Airport) is situated on the southeastern outskirts of the city and is easily accessible by rental car. From the center follow the Viale Roma (SS9) and turn right towards the Via Carlo Seganti. From the city center, it takes only about ten minutes to get to the airport. The route to the airport is clearly signposted.