Forlì

Forlì is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, situated in Romagna inland from the Adriatic coast. It lies to the southeast of Bologna and to the west of Rimini. The city stands in the Romagna plain and serves as an administrative, cultural, and economic center for the surrounding territory.

The history of Forlì stretches to antiquity, with its origins in the Roman settlement known as Forum Livii. In the Middle Ages it grew as a free comune and became a stronghold of the Malatesta family. The Rocca di Ravaldino, a fortress dating to the 14th-15th centuries, was built to control the area. The town later became part of the Papal States and, after Italian unification, the modern Italian state.

Notable sites include the Cathedral of San Mercuriale, a Romanesque church with later Gothic elements, and the medieval Rocca di Ravaldino. The city also houses the Pinacoteca Civica, which preserves works by Renaissance master Melozzo da Forlì, who was born here. The main public square is Piazza Saffi, and the Teatro Diego Fabbri hosts concerts and performances.

The economy combines services, light industry, and agriculture in the surrounding countryside. Forlì hosts a campus of the University of Bologna, contributing to research and higher education. The city has cultural festivals and markets that reflect Romagna traditions.

Forlì experiences a temperate climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters. It is served by Forlì-Luigi Ridolfi Airport (FRL) and by rail connections to Bologna and Rimini, with access to the A14 motorway nearby.