Rocca San Casciano: Church, Fortification and Trails

Church and Early Fortification

The Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Lacrime was built between 1776 and 1784 at the request of the parish priest at the time, Ambrogio Tassinari. It replaced the old parish church, which had been destroyed by the earthquake of 1661. The church contains a 16th-century ceramic plaque depicting the Madonna delle Lacrime with the Child. The old parish church was therefore the predecessor building destroyed by the earthquake. Visitors interested in culture can observe both the church’s construction after the earthquake and the older image motif.

The history of the Il Castellaccio fortification goes back much further: it was built around the year 1000. The surviving remains include a 15-metre-high tower, an old watchtower and large sections of the fortification wall. These sections of wall were recently uncovered. In addition to the 15-metre-high tower and the old watchtower, large parts of the wall are therefore also among the surviving remains.

Exhibitions and Books

In the centre of Rocca San Casciano, there is a permanent exhibition on rural and hunting traditions. It covers more than 200 m² and is divided into six sections. A seventh room is reserved for educational activities. Its subject ranges from rural to hunting traditions; a seventh room is reserved for educational activities.

The Biblioteca Francescana also complements the cultural focus. It currently preserves approximately 3,000 volumes. Of the original 194 volumes, 72 are still held in the library’s rooms today. For visitors interested in culture, the library complements the exhibition with historical book collections.

Piazza, Festival and Trails

The history of the town also includes Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. In the past, its arcades served to accommodate large crowds during weekly markets and annual fairs. Those viewing the piazza from an urban-history perspective will find a connection to both types of market in the arcades.

During the Festa del Falò, huge fires are lit along the banks of the Montone River; there are also fireworks.

The Percorsi della Margherita trail network is approximately 50 kilometres long and runs around Rocca San Casciano. The approximate length of around 50 kilometres refers to the entire trail network. When planning a day trip or stages, it is therefore possible to distinguish between the entire network and individual trail sections. The route distance can be treated as a separate planning element alongside the historical themes of the church, the fortification and the exhibition. When planning an individual trip, the selection can be limited to partial routes.

A Place in the Surrounding Area

The Abbazia di Sant'Ellero near Galeata is located in the area surrounding Rocca San Casciano. Galeata thus extends the local connection to include a point in the surroundings of Rocca San Casciano.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

More destinations for your travel planning: Quarto, Carpinello, Modigliana, Portico E San Benedetto, Corniolo, Galeata, Fiumana and Premilcuore.

To the main travel overview: Forlì-Cesena.