The city of Longiano, province of Forlì-Cesena, is located on the foothills between Cesena and Rimini, 179 meters above sea level, near the Highway Statale 9 via Emilia.
On the Highway Autostrada A14 Bologna-Ancona, take the exit "Cesena" or "Valle del Rubicone" Gatteo: Longiano is respectively 14 and 10 km away.
By train, the nearest stations are Cesena, Gambettola and Savignano sul Rubicone.
Since 2005, Longiano has held the prestigious “Bandiera Arancione” (Orange Flag), a distinction for quality tourism and environment awarded by Italy’s Touring Club.
A well-preserved medieval village, in Longiano tourists can find many historical and artistic records: in the town centre you will find the distinctive double wall, a castle of medieval origins,the former residence of the powerful Malatesta dynasty family, a majestic bell tower, five museums, a war refuge, two historical churches, and a nineteenth-century theater.
The village is surrounded by a hilly area perfect for hiking along roads and paths in the countryside.
Add tasty food and wine excellences and excellent restaurants and you will see the perfect picture of Longiano.
Longiano is ready to welcome visitors with open arms all year round. From the Castle the view is always breathtaking and embraces the surrounding hills and the plain, down to the Adriatic Sea and the Riviera.
In the first weeks of March, thanks to the numerous orchards around the old town, carpets of white and pink spring flowers in bloom are a sight to behold. Autumn paints the countryside with evocative colors, and during Christmas the atmosphere becomes magical along the path of Longiano dei Presepi (Nativity Scenes).
First of all, a visit to the Malatesta Castle and the treasures of the Tito Balestra Foundation is a must: a very original art collection by the greatest 20th Century Italian artists, such as Guttuso, Maccari, Mafai, Morandi, Sironi, De Pisis, Vespignani, Zancanaro and many others, plus a small but essential selection of foreign artists: Goya, Chagall, Matisse, Kokoschka.
The visit continues along four other very original museums, a proof of attention to culture and art: Museum of Cast Iron, Museum of Sacred Art, Ethnographic Museum and the Gallery of Masks of Italian "Commedia dell'Arte".
The Theater "Errico Ptrella" is a nineteenth-century jewel: a typical example of an Italian theater, finely decorated and characterized by extraordinary acoustics and a still very lively artistic activity.
Interesting churches with masterpieces from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century can also be visited.
The War Refuge is a tunnel that crosses the town center and reminds us of a dramatic period for Longiano and Romagna: the bombings of the Second World War.
Longiano’s gastronomic specialities are the simple yet delicious foods of Romagna. Pasta dishes include cappelletti, passatelli, tagliatelle with meat sauce, lasagne, strozzapreti and puntarine. Traditional main courses, accompanied by Romagna’s much-loved piadina flat bread, include rabbit with roast potatoes, grilled “castrato” (mutton), wild game, and meat and hams made from the prized “Mora romagnola” pig breed.
The Longiano area is home to a variety of products including honey, Romagna’s fine Sangiovese and Trebbiano wines and its fragrant extra virgin olive oil. Many companies offer the chance to taste their produce on their premises, and the old olive press of Turchi di Balignano can be visited. Expanses of fruit trees colour the countryside in spring with cherry, plum and apricot blossoms, as well as the PDO nectarine.
Roads and paths branch off from the center to the countryside, perfect for relaxing walks, hiking, excursions by sports bicycle or mountain bike. Some accommodation facilities also offer a swimming pool for refreshing dips and swims.
In Longiano there are initiatives such as the Cherry Festival (2 June), the Wine and Food Festival in the Streets, in collaboration with the Wine and Flavors Route of Forlì and Cesena (second Saturday in July), and the Longianese Week (last week of July). During the Christmas period, from 8 December to mid January, Longiano dei Presepi takes place: a route of more than a hundred nativity scenes in the old town.
Moreover, do not forget the numerous cultural activities of the Tito Balestra Foundation, which presents a number of cultural mettings and events, and the program of the Petrella Theater is always very rich and full of big names.
Free parking lots: piazza XI Ottobre 1944 (in the back of the Town Hall); underground car park in via Circonvallazione (back of the Town Hall); piazza Racca.
Camper area: piazza Racca (equipped with wc, drinking water, draining, no electricity. Free use).
