Forlì 20th Century City

From the train station, you can reach Piazzale della Vittoria by walking along the“Miglio Bianco”: a straight stretch of road characterized by the variety of designs and architectural styles of the early 20th century, where the monumental buildings are predominantly characterized by various shades of white, exposed masonry, and painted stucco.

Notable buildings include:

• Forlì Train Station: designed by Ezio Bianchi and inaugurated in the second half of the 1920s. The building, approximately 80 meters long, features an eclectic and monumental style: the central section, corresponding to the main entrance, which leads to the double-height hall, is framed by two symmetrical turrets that highlight the three large entrance arches, decorated with pilasters and floral motifs. On either side are two secondary wings with arched entrances.
• Former Aeronautical College: Designed by architect Cesare Valle, it is considered one of the masterpieces of Italian Rationalism. Inside, it houses Angelo Canevari’s splendid “Mosaici del Volo” (Mosaics of Flight ).

Must-See

The Statue of Icarus, one of the city’s symbols, stands nearly five meters tall and was carved from Carrara marble by the Roman sculptor Francesco Saverio Palozzi.

Curiosity

Originally, the statue stood on a base resembling the rocks of a cliff, as the legend goes.

Continuing along Viale della Libertà, you’ll come to Piazzale della Vittoria, where you’ll find the solemn War Memorial designed by Cesare Bazzani in 1925—a true visual symbol of the city.

To know

• the Doric column stands a full 32 meters tall;
• the three bronze statues of Victory are the work of sculptor Bernardo Morescalchi;
• on either side of the column are two altars decorated with bas-reliefs by Bernardino Boifava, which depict the key moments in the hero’s life: from battle to the catharsis of death or the return to domestic tranquility, where the goddess sheathes her sword and a child clings to his mother.

Along Corso della Repubblica, you’ll find two notable examples of 20th-century architecture:

• The Bazzani-Benini Buildings: designed by Cesare Bazzani, they are located at the beginning of Corso della Repubblica and mark the entrance to the historic center.

Curiosity

Although the two buildings appear similar from the outside, they actually differ in the layout of their interiors and demonstrate Bazzani’s embrace of a 20th-century aesthetic. Meanwhile, the two observation towers—set back from the street to allow for the creation of two terraces—are the only elements that make a specific reference to the classical order.

• Hotel della Città: Opened in 1957, it was commissioned by the Forlì-based publisher and entrepreneur Aldo Garzanti from architect Gio Ponti. Conceived as a place offering free lodging for artists, writers, and scientists, the building fully embodies Ponti’s style, blending tradition and modernity, history and design, elite culture and everyday life in an original way.

To know

The Hotel della Città is one of the few examples in Emilia-Romagna designed by Gio Ponti and stands as a valuable testament to postwar Italian design and architecture.

Continuing along Corso della Repubblica, you’ll reach Piazza Aurelio Saffi, the beating heart of Forlì since medieval times. This spacious and picturesque square is dominated in the center by a statue dedicated to the Forlì-born patriot Aurelio Saffi and remains the main gathering place and hub of city life to this day.

Among the most prestigious landmarks that define the square, the 20th-century Palazzo delle Poste certainly stands out.

To know

• Designed by Cesare Bazzani and built between 1931 and 1932, the building has a rectangular layout and faces the square with a double row of round arches. The ground floor, raised by about one meter, features a wide and deep portico that creates a harmonious dialogue with the surrounding urban space.
• It was Cesare Bazzani himself who suggested the location for the new Post and Telegraph Office, right in the heart of the city.

To taste

After strolling among monuments, sweeping views, and 20th-century architecture, treat yourself to a quintessentially Romagna break. Take a seat at a trattoria and let yourself be won over by cappelletti with ragù or steaming passatelli, prepared according to tradition. Don’t miss a warm piadina with squacquerone cheese and arugula, perhaps paired with a glass of Sangiovese from the hills of Forlì.