The “Forlì 20th Century City” itinerary guides visitors through Forlì’s exquisite artistic and architectural traces of the early 20th century. These were originally intended to characterise the new face of the city when it was destined by the Fascist government to become a sort of “mini Rome”. The itinerary covers the area between the so-called “rationalist quarter”, which runs along Viale della Stazione to Piazzale della Vittoria and the middle of Piazza Saffi.
Among the most expert individuals who undertook this urban and architectural renovation was Cesare Bazzani and Cesare Valle.
We have Cesare Bazzani to thank for the impressive Monumento ai Caduti (“War Memorial”) in Piazzale della Vittoria, featuring a 32-metre-high Doric column and two sizeable side altars adorned with bas-reliefs by Bernardino Boifava. Also by Cesare Bazzani is the Post office building project in Piazza Saffi.
Cesare Valli, on the other hand, is responsible for such projects as the Former Italian Youth of the Lictor building and the Former Aeronautic School. The latter is an original masterpiece of rationalist architecture, home to the splendid Mosaici del volo (“Myth of Flight Mosaics”) by Angelo Canevari. The imposing statue of Icarus (one of the city’s symbols) by Francesco Saverio Palozzi, dominates the open space in front of the entrance to the Aeronautic School.
Of particular interest is Hotel della Città, an archetypal exemplar of late 20th century architecture, designed by Gio Ponti and opened in 1957.