🎄 Win a month in Italy for two — €10,000 · The Secret Italy Prize GO →
Saffi Square — Forlì
← Back
Fountains, Squares and Bridges 📍 Forlì, Italy 469 views

Saffi Square

On its southern side stands the Romanesque Basilica of San Mercuriale and its Cloister, a single complex whose current appearance is the result of successive vicissitudes over the centuries. The Gothic portal in pink stone houses, in the lunette, the relief of the Dream and Adora...

Saffi Square — Forlì, Italy.

Location
Forlì
Type
Fountains, Squares and Bridges
Opening hours
Weather now
↗ Directions

About Saffi Square

Saffi Square - Forlì | Secret World Trip Planner

On its southern side stands the Romanesque Basilica of San Mercuriale and its Cloister, a single complex whose current appearance is the result of successive vicissitudes over the centuries. The Gothic portal in pink stone houses, in the lunette, the relief of the Dream and Adoration of the Magi (13th century), attributed to the Maestro dei Mesi of Ferrara. Worthy of note, at the beginning of the right aisle, is the Funeral Monument to Barbara Manfredi (circa 1466), the work of Francesco di Simone Ferrucci da Fiesole, placed here in 1944 following the bombing of the Church of San Girolamo which housed it. Crossing the Cloister of the Basilica we reach Piazza XX Settembre overlooked by the imposing Palace of Justice, started in 1940 and finished only in 1969 because of the war events. Walking along Largo de Calboli to get back to Piazza Saffi, we pass in front of Palazzo Paulucci De Calboli, which was built at the beginning of the XVIII century on the design of Luigi Alberti, under the direction of the Roman architect Saverio Marini. Further evidence of the architecture of the Fascist period, in addition to the above-mentioned Palace of Justice, can be found along the entire eastern side of Piazza Saffi occupied by the Palazzo delle Poste (1931-32), built according to a design by Cesare Bazzani. The square is dominated by the Palazzo Comunale, seat of the Town Hall, built starting from the year 1000 around the ancient tower and progressively enlarged towards Campo dell'Abate. In 1412 it became the residence of the Ordelaffi family and was subject to various alterations and extensions over the centuries. On the corner with Corso Diaz is Palazzo del Podestà, built in 1460, which can only be visited externally as it is private property. Next to it is Palazzo Albertini, an elegant fifteenth-century building with clearly Venetian features, erected between the end of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth century on a portico with a round arch profiled by a terracotta ring. On the west side of Piazza Saffi stands the Chiesa del Suffragio, begun in 1723 to a design by Fra' Paolo Soratini and completed only in 1933. With an elliptical plan, the interior is marked by pillars and columns on which stands a large drum crowned by a vault, rebuilt in 1784 after an earthquake. The slender dome has frescoes by the Venetian Jacopo Guarana and paintings by the Bolognese Serafino Barozzi (1784).

✦ Secret World · suggested day

A perfect day in Forlì

Start with Saffi Square, then continue with nearby places selected by Secret World.

  1. 01
    Morning
    Saffi Square
    📍 Forlì
    Start here
  2. 02
    Afternoon
    📍 0 km away
  3. 03
    Evening
    📍 0.1 km away

Collect this place

Turn places you discover into stamps in your Secret Passport.

Open Secret Passport →

Keep exploring · Forlì

Frequently Asked Questions

The Romanesque Basilica of San Mercuriale with its Cloister is the main attraction, featuring a stunning Gothic portal in pink stone with a 13th-century relief of the Dream and Adoration of the Magi. Inside, you'll find the impressive Funeral Monument to Barbara Manfredi created by Francesco di Simone Ferrucci da Fiesole in 1466.
The Palazzo Comunale serves as the Town Hall and is the square's most prominent building, originally constructed around the year 1000 with an ancient tower at its core. It has been progressively enlarged over centuries and became the residence of the powerful Ordelaffi family in 1412, making it a significant historical landmark of the square.
The Palazzo delle Poste (1931-32), designed by Cesare Bazzani, occupies the entire eastern side of the square and is a notable example of Fascist architecture. Additionally, the Palace of Justice on Piazza XX Settembre, started in 1940 and completed in 1969, represents another significant architectural work from this period.
No, Palazzo del Podestà, built in 1460 on the corner with Corso Diaz, can only be viewed from the outside as it is private property. However, its Renaissance architecture from that era is still worth observing from the street.
The square showcases a remarkable mix of architectural periods including Romanesque (Basilica of San Mercuriale), Gothic (the basilica's portal), Renaissance (Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Albertini with Venetian features), 18th-century baroque (Palazzo Paulucci De Calboli), and Fascist-era modernism. This architectural diversity reflects the square's importance and evolution over more than a thousand years of history.

Experiences nearby · Forlì

Powered by Viator

See more on Viator.com

Secret World @php $__al = $lang ?? app()->getLocale(); @endphp @if($__al === 'ko')숨겨진 명소, 진짜 이야기 — 여행을 계획하세요 @elseif($__al === 'ja')隠れた名所とリアルな物語 — 旅を計画しよう @elseHidden places, real stories — plan your trip@endif
@if($__al === 'ko')무료 앱 시작하기@elseif($__al === 'ja')無料アプリを入手@else Get the app @endif