Predappio lies in the valley of the Rabbi River, in a hilly area.
Surrounded by fine vineyards that produce Sangiovese doc, the most appreciated and widespread wine in Romagna, the current town centre is clearly separated from the ancient Predappio (named Predappio Alta in March 1936).
The town testifies to Benito Mussolini’s commitment to the valorisation of his birthplace and has applied for the title of “Foundation Town”. The small lowland hamlet of Dovìa became the town’s capital (Predappio Nuova) on 30 August 1925.
Built between the 1920s and 1940s, Predappio is presented as a true “urban museum”, an original testimony to the urban and architectural style of the Venn Valley, with the triumph of rationalism, all the more enhanced by the importance of the experts who directed the works, including Florestano Di Fausto, Cesare Bazzani, Cesare Valle, Arnaldo Fuzzi and Gustavo Giovannoni.
The name of Predappio is also linked to the figure of Adone Zoli (born here), a Catholic anti-fascist who held important political positions in the fight for liberation and in the Italian Republic, of which he was Prime Minister.
The Predappio area, from a geological point of view, is composed of rock formations with a predominance of spungone; there are also sulphur and gypsum deposits. The territory of Predappio is characterised by areas of intensive cultivation, mainly vineyards, as well as orchards, cereals and fodder crops.
The environment in this area has some interesting features, such as the gullies which, due to strong erosion, remind us of a lunar landscape and, despite their desolate sterility, represent a landscape of great beauty and naturalistic value.
Predappio, with 26 other towns, is part of the Comunità Ospitali (Hospitable Communities) project promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Hospitable Communities are an innovative model of tourist offer for holidays spent in a particular part of Italy wishing to be “unique”: a tourism development model promoted in the Italian network of Authentic Villages (250 areas and municipalities aspiring to qualify). They distinguish themselves from the traditional holiday destinations by a unique attitude of the host and the special experience offered to the guest.
Places to visit: Church of Sant’Agostino in Rocca D’Elmici, Church of San Cassiano in Pennino, Fortress and village of Predappio Alta with its characteristic public washhouse and the 15th century cellars of Cà de Sanzvés.
How to get there: Predappio is 16 km from Forlì and can be reached by taking the Rabbi provincial road no. 3 in the direction of Premilcuore/Florence. Predappio is also connected to Forlì by a regular hourly bus service provided by the public transport company START Romagna.
Distances from cities of art and tourist resorts: Forlì km. 16; Cesena km. 40; Florence km. 95; Venice km. 190; Bologna km. 80; Rimini km. 70.
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A small town in the province of Forlì-Cesena, located on the banks of the Rabbi river, on the state road between Forlì and Predappio.
There are records of human settlements since the Bronze Age.
Archaeological excavations have brought to light the remains of a Roman villa in the surroundings of Fiumana, which was active from the 1st century to the 4th century AD.
In the 11th century, there are records of a monastery in Fiumana organised according to the rule of St Benedict.
It was an important abbey on the same level as St Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna until the end of the 15th century, when it began to lose its independence. Today, only the church remains as a testimony to the glorious and flourishing Abbey of Santa Maria in Fiumana, despite earthquakes, fires and others.
Fiumana’s only historical monument, it was restored and reopened for worship on 29 December 2002.
During the renovation of the ancient church, artefacts came to light that testify the ancient origins of this monument.
It was a municipality until 1925, when the fascist authorities decided to suppress the ancient municipality and merge it with that of Predappio.
In the area west of the artisanal district of Fiumana, in the locality of Ca’ di mezzo, there is a settlement centred on the events of a Roman villa characterised by at least two important building phases: an early imperial phase (1st century A.D.) and one from the late antique period (4th century A.D.). Both villas must have been rich dwellings, characterised by large spaces and prestigious furnishings. The Late Antique structure in particular, due to its exceptional dimensions (structures distributed over an area of certainly more than 25,000 square metres) and the complex and imaginative articulation of its architectural forms (vast polylobate pavilions with a central plan), is an ambitious, opulent building project celebrating the fortunes of a rich dominus, probably an illustrious exponent of the Forum Livi aristocracy.
This itinerary aims to point tourists to the culinary offerings of our land, with a culinary tradition famous throughout Italy.
Romagna, is in fact endowed with very fertile soils from which excellent natural products are obtained that can be enjoyed as soon as they are picked or prepared within sophisticated recipes to be served on the table.
It starts with the best-known and most popular events held in all the towns in the area. In Romagna, in fact, in every season of the year, it is possible to take part in countless festivals.
Monuments, churches, villas, palaces and relevant places
Natural parks and gardens, landscapes and breathtaking sights
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