The Romagna region during the Renaissance finds its finest expression in the works of Marco Palmezzano (Forlì, 1459–1539), a “beloved pupil” of Melozzo da Forlì. His paintings continue to captivate viewers today with their glossy, dense oil paint and dramatic backdrops.
This itinerary leads you to discover his works scattered throughout Forlì, Forlimpopoli, and Castrocaro Terme.
For lovers of history and culture, we also recommend the following itineraries in the area:
The tour exploring the work of Romagna’s greatest Renaissance artist begins in Forlì —specifically at Piazza Guido da Montefeltro—with a visit to the San Domenico Civic Museum.
The San Domenico Civic Museum houses no fewer than fourteen works by Marco Palmezzano, among which the altarpiece of the Annunciation, created for the Church of Carmine in Forlì, stands out. The work depicts the encounter between the Archangel Gabriel, who is offering a flower, and the Virgin Mary, engrossed in a book, beneath a vaulted nave supported by breccia columns, opening onto a luminous and lively landscape.
The tour continues to the Church of San Biagio, located about 700 meters from the museum, in Piazzetta Don Garbin. Built after the war on the foundations of the ancient Church of San Biagio in San Gerolamo—which was destroyed by a bombing on December 10, 1944—it is a small treasure trove of artistic masterpieces.
Inside, three works of art that survived the destruction are still preserved:
To know
Unfortunately, the famous frescoes created jointly by Melozzo da Forlì and Palmezzano in the dome of the Feo Chapel have been lost; commissioned by Caterina Sforza, Lady of Forlì, as a family chapel for the family of her beloved Giacomo Feo, who was killed in 1495 and buried here.
Strolling through the alleys of the historic center
Must-see
From San Biagio, take Via dei Mille and then Via Maroncelli to reach Piazza Ordelaffi; from there, follow Via delle Torri to reach the very central Piazza Saffi, home to the Abbey of San Mercuriale, a basilica built in the Romanesque-Lombard style. Dedicated to the first bishop of Forlì, it stands as an extraordinary example of a monument rich in religious, artistic, and civic significance.
There are two masterpieces by Marzo Palmezzano inside the Abbey:
Curiosity
The Abbey is topped by a Lombard-style bell tower, over 70 meters high.
Travel tip
Continuing along Corso Diaz toward Porta Ravaldino, you’ll reach the Church of St. Anthony the Abbot in Ravaldino: an octagonal church whose crypt houses a valuable panel painting by Marco Palmezzano, the “Visitation” (1516–1520).
The next stop takes us to Forlimpopoli, a small town located on the Via Emilia between Forlì and Cesena and known internationally as the birthplace of the great writer and gastronome Pellegrino Artusi, considered the father of Italian cuisine thanks to his work *Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well*.
Of particular note here is the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, known as “dei Servi”: built in the second half of the 15th century by the Fathers of the Order of the Servants of Mary and, over time, adorned with a rich decorative scheme until, following the Napoleonic suppressions, it was permanently abandoned in 1797.
The interior still amazes visitors today with the richness of its decorative elements: along the walls are six altars adorned with stucco work and valuable works of art.
To know
The altarpiece of the Annunciation was painted on wood by Marco Palmezzano in 1533.
The work differs in style—which here appears simple and devoid of decorative elements—from the two earlier versions of the same subject housed at the San Domenico Civic Museum.
The final stop on the route is Castrocaro Terme, a renowned resort town and major spa destination located 10 km from Forlì on the road connecting Ravenna to Florence.
To see
The Church of Saints Nicolò and Francesco: dating back to 1398 and extensively renovated in 1520, it originally belonged to the Franciscan Convent; then, in 1783, following the abolition of the Convent of the Friars Minor, it passed into the hands of the parish.
Must-see
In the center of the apse is “The Blessed Virgin with Saints Augustine and Anthony of Padua,” painted by Marco Palmezzano in 1500, depicting the Blessed Virgin enthroned, nursing the infant Jesus between Saints Augustine and Anthony of Padua. The former, dressed as a bishop with a miter on his head, holds a large book in his left hand and a crosier in his right; the latter wears a Franciscan habit and holds a closed red book in his hand.
