Cesena is a small city in the Emilio Romagna region, a short distance from the Adriatic Sea and on the main railway line between Bologna and Ancona. The historic town is full of spectacular churches, beautiful private homes and fine art galleries while the highlight of any visit is the Malatestian Fortress, an impressive defensive castle.
The first fortress to be built on this site was constructed in the 12th century, though the current building dates from later, with the impressive octagonal towers added in the 1600s. These towers are called the “male” and “female”, with the former housing a museum of agriculture and the latter being home to a display of local ceramics. The fortress was previously used as a prison, and you can still see signs of this in the architecture, such as the supposedly haunted “corridor of ghosts”; more of a tunnel in the basement of the central building. In fact, there have been some famous inmates in the Malatestina fortress over the centuries, including Caterina Sforza, who was imprisoned by Cesare Borgia when she refused his advances. From the ramparts of the Malatestian Fortress, locally called the Rocca Malatestina, you can enjoy great views over Cesena and the surrounding hills, often as far as the Adriatic on clear days.
The Malatesta family were not just responsible for the building of the spectacular fortress that shares their name; the 13th century Bibliotecca Malatestina was the first public library in the world, and still features many historic documents and books today. The building itself is beautifully designed, and many of the original reading desks remain in place.
Just outside the town of Cesena, on the imposing Spaziano Hill, stands the Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte. Although the building has been damaged over the years by earthquakes and fires, many of the best architectural features still remain, including the impressive painted cupola, created in the 18th century. Cesena's main cathedral was finished in the 1400s by another member of the Malatestina family, who was also the local bishop. The external structure looks plain, but inside the walls are painted with religious frescoes.
Two former monasteries in the town now house museums; an art gallery featuring works by local artists, dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries and another, private art collection in a Celestine monastery.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Cesena? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Cesena and villas in Cesena that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
