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1 Travelling is akin to accurate research. Of course, there are other ways of finding out about the world. But the traveller is a slave to his senses. Lord Byron That’s how Lord Byron, one of the protagonists of the Grand Tour, described the close relationship between experience and travelling; experience that goes beyond and extends pure enjoyment of a historic piece of art or the landscape. Ours is an invitation to explore Romagna Toscana, to launch into an authentic experience in a terri- tory still intact and just waiting for you to discover its history, nature, natural springs and spa waters, set like gems into gentle hills, woods and uplands. Itineraries become tales that every traveller can add to, change and interpret to bring their experience to life, cre- ating their own stories to be treasured and passed on. CASTROCARO TERME E TERRA DEL SOLE La Fortezza Romagna Toscana, geographically and culturally Romagna, at the end of the 15th century was under the government of the Repub- lic of Florence, then was governed by the Grand Duke of Tuscany until 1859. After Italy’s unification it was included in the province of Florence until 1923, when Benito Mussolini merged 11 municipali- ties under the province of Forlì and another three under Florence. The illustrious dynasty of the aristocratic Guidi family, mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy, began with the marriage of Englarada II, daughter of Duke Martino di Ravenna to the Pistoia knight Tegri- no, at the beginning of the 10th century. Historically Romagna Toscana comprised the municipalities of Verghereto, Bagno di Romagna, Sorbano (now Sarsina), Santa Sofia, Galeata, Premilcuore, Portico e San Benedetto, Rocca San Casciano, Dovadola, Castrocaro Terme and Terra del Sole, Tredozio and Modigliana for Romagna, Marradi, Palazzuolo and Firenzuola for Tuscany; we hope the snippets of information given here will awaken your curio- sity and kindle a desire to explore a territory that offers numerous itineraries in a surprisingly little known part of Italy. The itineraries described in this leaflet are based on geographical positions and certain themes so that visitors/travellers can organise their own routes and create their own stories. ROMAGNA TOSCANA A land of tales to tell Starting from the “ideal Renaissance city” Terra del Sole, crossing Castrocaro Terme, a well-known spa popular for its magic waters up to the 19th century, you approach the Apennines following the River Montone along the Valle dell’Acquacheta; after Dovadola and Rocca San Casciano, you reach the heart of the ancient province of Romagna Toscana with its hamlets, fortresses, humpbacked bridges, towers and ancient abbeys, finally reaching Portico and San Benedetto. Parallel to the Valle dell’Acquacheta runs the valley of the River Tramazzo, with the hamlets of Modigliana, where the Guidi dynasty had its seat, and the birthplace of famous artists such as macchiaiolo Silvestro Lega, and Tredozio, a place rich in history and illustrious men. Nestling in the Tosco-Romagnolo Apennines, at the entrance to the Lamone Valley, lies Marradi, another Guidi borough and home to the great poet Dino Campana, to continue towards the villages of Palazzuolo sul Senio and Firenzuola with a typically Florentine character. Along the Bidente valley from Galeata you reach Santa Sofia, while in the Rabbi Valley you arrive in Premilcuore: these are centuries old hamlets, places steeped in archaeology, medieval churches and Renaissance buildings, connected by a network of itineraries, cycle paths and walks. Finally you reach the Savio Valley with its ancient hamlets, where life is good and nature is breathtakingly beautiful. Sarsina, birthplace of the Latin poet Tito Maccio Plauto, every year visited by thousands of pilgrims to the Basilica of St. Vicinio; Bagno di Romagna with its famous spa waters, famous since Roman times, gateway to the Casentinesi Forest Park; Verghereto, the place St. Romualdo fled from to found the Sacred Hermitage of Camaldoli on the other side of the Apennines. The River Tiber, the sacred river of Rome, rises in the valley from two springs known as le Vene situated on the slopes of Monte Fumaiolo and the River Savio which descends the valley towards the Adriatic Sea. la guida Here are a few tales that will helpaccont youi: read this little guide: < A14 dir dirdir. BOLOGNA A14 dir. RIMINI > ZOZ REREZZOREZZ AREAR ir. AR dir. ARE < E45 dir. ARE PARCO NAZIONALE FORESTE CASENTINESI Corniolo DIGA DI Campigna RIDRACOLI Eremo di Camaldoli RACCONTI RACCONTI RACCONTI RACCONTI dell'ARTE e del GUSTO e delloSPIRITO del FARE TALESSTORIA TALESBENESSERE TALES TALES dofe llaART dofel FLAVOURS of SPIRIT of INGENUITY and HISTORY and WELLBEING 5 TALES of ART and HISTORY An itinerary that sets off from several points in Romagna Toscana to explore hamlets large and small, steeped in ancient memories and natural beauty. TERRA DEL SOLE Palazzo Pretorio 6 CASTROCARO TERME E TERRA DEL SOLE Fortezza di Castrocaro ᕡ > The lanes and ancient gates of this medieval town take you to the imposing fortress that dominates Castrocaro from above: unique, admirable architecture for an authentic forti- fied complex that has come down through the ages, as if suspended in time. Terra del Sole > The city-fortress, founded on 8 December 1564 by Cosimo I De Medici, as the new centre of Romagna Toscana is an extraordinary 1 example of a 16th century fortified town. Within its walls it preserves a true people-oriented town, a rare example of military and judicial architecture displaying a harmonious relationship between space and volumes. DOVADOLA Rocca dei Conti Guidi > Now represents the best preserved example of the Guidi family’s forti- fication in Romagna, fascinating even today. The first records 2 of the fortress go back to 1021, but the building we see today was constructed in the 13th century. It stands on a rocky spur and still domi- nates the town, as it once dominated the road to Florence, the Strada Fiorentina. Il Borgo > The ancient structure of the hamlet can still be admired. It begins with a characteristic passage under the Civic Clock Tower through the arch that leads to Via Famiglia Tartagli Marvelli, once the road that led from the hamlet to the Guidi castle. Nearby stands the ancient Oratory of S. Gennaro and Sant’Antonio di Padova. ROCCA SAN CASCIANO 3 Piazza Garibaldi ᕣ > It is the heart of the town, in the unique triangular perimeter you can catch clear signs of the Tuscan influence like the terracotta flooring recently restored, surrounded by low and characteristic arcades whose columns are of stone forged by a chisel. It has adapted well over the centuries to its role as a market and fair venue. In fact, Rocca, which became the capital of Romagna Toscana between the 18th and 19th century, was the 7 3 site of the most important silk markets and producers flocked here from all over the region. 16th and 17th century palazzi that belonged to local noble families, the Praetorian Palace and the Clock Tower, the ancient Prisons and finally the Church dedicated to Our Lady of Intercession built to remember the victims of the 1661 earthquake, all face onto the square. Today it is an exhibition centre of numerous art works belonging to the parish, which include a tondo (round artwork) in glazed terracotta attributed to Andrea della Robbia depicting “Madonna in adoration of the Child, Saint John and a choir of Angels”. PORTICO E SAN BENEDETTO IN ALPE "... Just like that river" > The evocative hamlets of Portico di Romagna lead to the famous Maestà bridge, a slender, humpbacked stone bridge. Descend to the river to admire the waterfalls and Brusia bridge. At San Benedetto, a splendid path takes you to the ancient Romiti mill and the famous 4 Acquacheta waterfalls, whose praises were sung by Dante in the XVI Canto dell’Inferno. PREMILCUORE A small medieval gem > A beautifully kept, picturesque medieval hamlet nestling on the slopes of Monte Rocchetta. Its towers, sandstone houses, noble mansions, hidden corners and cobbled streets that climb up to the ancient keep 5 fascinate the visitor with their evocative romanticism. Don’t miss the Torre dell’Orologio or Porta Fiorentina, a tall, imposing, tower-type gate, typical of 14th century Tuscany, to which a mechanical clock was added in 1593, still operating today, or the wonderful religious buildings: the church of S. Lorenzo and the parish church of S. Martino. 8 MODIGLIANA Lega itineraries > Surprising routes “of the heart” and “of art” indicate in a very original way (by means of bronze plaques set into the streets) the places linked to the life of the well-known macchiaiolo Sil- vestro Lega in his native town, which he depicted in his wonderful paintings. You may also stand on the site where Lega placed his easel to paint views of his town. The Civic Art Gallery includes a section dedicated to the paintings of its illustrious citizen. Modigliana in the Risorgimento > A sign indicates the places that tell us of the important contribu- tion Modigliana made to 6 the Italian Risorgimento, especially through the activities of a “revolution- ary” priest, Don Giovanni Verità, Giuseppe Garibaldi’s friend and life saver. Don Giovanni Verità’s house is now a museum that contains many documents testifying to his patriotism and friendship with Garibaldi. TREDOZIO Historic Buildings ᕧ > Open to visitors along via XX Settembre, the historic mansions of the Re- naissance and 18th century signorie in the town centre reflect the style and influence of the Florentine dominion and created the first road in the settlement of Tredozio: Palazzo Fantini, Palazzo Frassineti, 7 Palazzo Bonaccorsi and Vicolo Mercatale. Visit to the Castellaccio > The castle (Castrum Treudacium) is situated just a few minutes from the centre of Tredozio, on a hilltop that overlooks the valley.

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