Bertinoro

Bertinoro is also the capital of hospitality thanks to its century-old tradition of welcoming tourists; here the quality of life turns every holiday into a unique experience.

A brief history.
Already known in the 11th century with the name of Castrum Cesubeum, it was a County and was fought over by Cesena, Forlì and Rimini for its strategic position. In 1558 it became part of the territories of the States of the Church. Bertinoro is a small medieval town and, walking through the steep and narrow streets, you can catch a glimpse of a past rich in stories and traditions.

The heart of the old town.
Only two of the three historical town gates are well preserved: Porta S. Romano (or of the "Three Saints") towards Forlì and Porta Malatesta, towards Polenta, built in the 15th century. You then arrive in the beautiful Piazza della Libertà, an open space that goes from the hills to the sea. On the south side there is the 14th century Palazzo Comunale and the left side of the Bramante-style Cathedral dedicated to St. Cathrine, patron saint of the town. The Torre dell'Orologio (clock tower), whose bells date back to 1526, towers over the town: once it used to be much higher and was used as 'lighthouse' for seafarers and wayfarers. In the background you can see the 'Colonna delle Anella' (ring column), the symbol of the town's hospitality tradition. It was built in the 13th century to put an end to the disputes between local families over who was to host visitors from out of town. A visitor arriving into town would tie his horse to one of the rings and would directly become the guest of the family associated with that ring and would enjoy the typical hospitality of Bertinoro.

The century-old Fortress.
The imposing Fortress towers over the village. In 1177 Frederick Barbarossa stayed in the Fortress and in the late Middle Ages the Malatesta, Sforza and Borgia families also stayed here. In 1584 it became the bishop's residence in Bertinoro. Recently restored, it now houses the Museo Interreligioso and the University Residential Centre, in which summer university courses held by the Alma Mater Studiorum of Bologna take place.

Surrounding area.
The nearby Mount Maggio dominates the hill of Bertinoro with a luxuriant landscape rich in ancient remains testifying to the town's eventful history linked to a destroyed castle and to the later presence of Capuchin monks.
A few kilometres from Bertinoro there is the small Parish Church of S. Donato in Polenta, which is famous because it was mentioned in a poem by Carducci. It is a humble Romanesque parish church that, according to a legend, is linked to Dante Alighieri, another great poet, who stopped here to pray on his way from Arezzo to Ravenna.
Fratta Terme, famous since Roman times for its beneficial sulphur, bromine-iodine and magnesium-iodine water springs, is located in the beautiful scenery of the hills of Bertinoro.

A modern centre dedicated to Water and Wellness is being built in a beautiful 13-hectare park.

Texts and images are published with courtesy of Province of Forlì-Cesena Tourist Office www.turismo-fc.it