Exploring Forlì’s hinterland: a motorhome trip between Art, Nature and Taste
Discovering the Forlì hinterland can be a surprising experience, made even more special if you have the opportunity to do it on board a motorhome.
The strategic geographical position that characterises Forlì makes it an ideal starting point to explore the territory of Romagna. Starting from Forlì, it is easy to reach the regenerating thermal baths of Castrocaro, immerse yourself in the medieval villages or venture into the hills full of vineyards and olive groves, discovering authentic flavours and breathtaking views. Crossing picturesque towns, you will have the opportunity to get to know historical places, visit museums, enjoy the beauty of nature and taste the local cuisine. Indeed, we are on the route of wines and flavours: each village has its own typical product and its traditional dish to taste.
An experience for lovers of adventures on the road not to be missed!
First stop
Start your journey in Forlì, a city with ancient roots and a vibrant heart. Once you've parked your motorhome, head to the historic centre, where you'll be greeted by cobbled streets and magnificent Renaissance palaces.
The Argine car park is the ideal choice for those who want to explore the city, being close to the historic centre, precisely in via delle Donne della Costituente. The motorhome parking area is equipped with a free motorhome service for water supply and drainage, as well as a chemical drain for toilets and non-potable water for rinsing. Forlì offers visitors a multi-sensory experience that embraces history, culture, art and gastronomic delights. Its charming historic centre captures attention with wide spaces, elegant streets and monuments that narrate centuries of history.
Piazza Aurelio Saffi is a perfect example: located in the heart of the city, it is one of the largest squares in Italy and houses some authentic treasures of Forlì's past, such as the statue of Aurelio Saffi, the 12th-century Abbey of San Mercuriale and the majestic Palazzo delle Poste, in a rationalist style.
A short distance away you can find the Civic Museum of San Domenico, home to the Great Exhibitions and the Civic Art Gallery, and the Civic Museum of Palazzo Romagnoli, which houses the artistic collections of the twentieth century. (Palazzo Romagnoli is currently closed due to refurbishment.) Both museums, with their precious artistic heritage, are an essential stop for every visitor.
For those who want to relax, the Franco Agosto Urban Park is accessible directly from the car park. This 26-hectare green area, along the banks of the Montone River, offers moments of leisure and refreshment to those who wish to immerse themselves in nature even within the city.
For lovers of "getaways" into nature and good food, we recommend parking the motorhome and getting on a bicycle to try one of the Forlì Bike Food themed itineraries, dedicated to gastronauts on bicycles. A balanced mix of panoramic pedalling, discovering of evocative places and tastings of local products between Forlì and the lands of Pellegrino Artusi.
Second stop
Once you have finished visiting the city of Forlì and left the car park, take the road to the northwest (towards Castrocaro Terme), to start your journey towards Terra del Sole. Here, there is a small gem set in the hills, an ideal village, an urban utopia born in 1564 at the behest of Cosimo I de' Medici to become the capital of elegance and Medici culture in Romagna Tuscany. During your visit, do not miss the opportunity to explore the Museum of Man and Environment, full of precious historical testimonies.
Terra del Sole is also unspoilt nature: the trees, the cultivated fields, the gentle hills that descend towards the plain and the lush rows of olive trees that surround it all around, make it a real oasis of serenity. After about 1 kilometre, you reach Castrocaro Terme, a renowned destination for relaxation and well-being, famous for its thermal waters and evocative landscape. In the center of the village stands the majestic castle, dating back to the 10th century, which dominates the entire area offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding valley. Today restored, the fortification hosts cultural events, exhibitions and shows that enrich the atmosphere, giving visitors an unforgettable experience. Walking through the village, we suggest you stop at one of the local bakeries, where you can taste the renowned "Castrocarino" bread or "Pane di Castrocaro", baked every day following an ancient recipe based on Castrocaro water, local wheat flour, salt and yeast.
Free entry parking points for those travelling by motorhome are located in the car park of Via Biondina, 86. Here you can use public lighting and free black water drainage or water and electricity paying via a token service.
Third stop
Leaving Castrocaro Terme and following the SS 67 south for about 8 km, you will find yourself in Dovadola, a charming village immersed in the quiet and relaxing atmosphere of the Romagna Apennines. Here, the narrow and evocative streets of the centre, flanked by ancient stone houses and historic buildings, take visitors on a journey through time. Among the treasures to be discovered, there is the Abbey of Sant'Andrea, rich in works of art of inestimable artistic value, that houses the tomb of Benedetta Bianchi Porro. Dovadola is an ideal destination for travellers eager for an experience outside the usual tourist flows, embraced by a lush nature that offers hiking and trekking enthusiasts the opportunity to explore paths immersed in the greenery of the surrounding hills.
Also, a visit to the Hermitage of Montepaolo is not to be missed. It's the most important Antonian sanctuary in the region, where a relic of Saint Anthony of Padua is preserved. From here, two evocative routes unfold: the Sentiero della Speranza (Path of Hope) and the Viale dei Mosaici (Mosaics boulevard). One of the best occasions to visit Dovadola is during the Precious White Truffle Festival of Romagna, a fair dedicated to this famous specialty that is held every year in October. As for the stops, you can choose the rest stop in Via Nadiani, with the opportunity to access a water supply.
Fourth stop
Continuing along the SS 67 heading south, after about 9 km, you reach Rocca San Casciano.
This charming village is characterized by narrow cobbled streets, stone houses and historic buildings, which make it fascinating. Its historic centre is enriched by small squares, ancient churches and charming corners, perfect for a pleasant walk. The Church of San Cassiano, for example, is a point of interest for those who wish to explore the art and religious architecture of the area. Among the places to visit, in addition to Piazza Garibaldi - where the Civic Tower, the Praetorian Palace and the Church of Suffrage are located - there are the evocative Ponte Vecchio with two arches from the seventeenth century, which offers a breathtaking view of the bend of the Montone river near the village, and the Abbey of San Donnino in Soglio.
About 500 m from the centre stands the "Castellaccio", a fortification dating back to the 11th century.
Rocca San Casciano is also the ideal starting point to explore the surrounding Apennines, with hiking trails that allow you to immerse yourself in unspoiled nature and enjoy breathtaking views.
A traditional event not to be missed is the Festa dei Falò (Bonfires festival), which takes place between March and April along the banks of the Montone river. During this festival, the antagonistic districts, Borgo and Mercato, light two large haystacks, creating evocative bonfires and an unforgettable atmosphere.
As for the stops, there is an area equipped for motorhomes with four pitches, electricity, toilets and dishwashers in Viale Dante, within the Gramsci Park.
Fifth stop
After leaving Rocca San Casciano, continue south on SS 67. In a few minutes you can reach the municipality of Portico and San Benedetto, 7 km away.
In this area there are numerous parking areas for motorhomes: in the lower parking lot of the former sports field of Portico di Romagna; in the Olmo square on the right of the SS 67 coming from Forlì; in Bocconi, along via Chiusure, Brusia area; finally, in San Benedetto, in the elevated parking lot on the left of the SS 67 coming from Forlì. The center of Portico di Romagna maintains its medieval structure on three levels: the upper area with the castle and the parish church; the middle part with the stately palaces of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, such as Palazzo Portinari, Palazzo Traversari and Palazzo Mazzoni; finally, the lower area with the homes of artisans and ordinary citizens.
Two focal points of the city route are the main bridges that cross the Montone river: the Ponte della Maestà, for pilgrims heading to Assisi, and the Ponte della Brusia, characterized by three donkey-back arches. Both offer an initial glimpse of the splendor of the surrounding landscape.
Lovers of outdoor life can immerse themselves in nature by continuing along the SS 67 towards San Benedetto in Alpe, the starting point of the Nature Trail, inside the Foreste Casentinesi National Park. Here, walkers can admire the famous Acquacheta Falls, described by Dante Alighieri in Canto XVI of Inferno, where the spectacular 70-metre drop off of the waterfall's crystal-clear waters leaves everyone breathless.
