Art and Culture

The atmosphere of Faenza grows more intense in the winter, when the water in the monumental 17th-century Fontana dei Leoni turns to ice and the icicles fuse with the white marble of the fountain, while the fog envelops the Portici degli Orefici in Piazza della Libertà in a milky shroud. But Faenza is wonderful all year round. Most visitors come here to see the M.I.C. or the colourful Palio del Niballo.

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Then they discover the other treasures of the town. The heart of Faenza is the scenic ensemble of Piazza della Libertà and Piazza del Popolo, that look more like a single square, with two tiers of porticoes on both sides. The most beautiful Renaissance palaces seem to have been concentrated here: the Palazzo del Podestà and the Town hall (Palazzo Municipale, once home to the local rulers, the Manfredi family) and the 15th-century Cathedral.

The cathedral is one of the finest examples of the Renaissance in Romagna, with a half-finished marble facade and as many as 20 chapels in various styles, most of them dedicated to the several local saints. The most eye-catching building in Piazza del Popolo is the Torre dell’Orologio (clocktower) marking the intersection of the two main streets, once the cardus and decumanus of Roman Faventia (the Latin name that eventually evolved into Faenza). A recess on one of its sides holds a 17th-century statue of the Virgin, to which many locals nod respectfully when they pass by.

All the other sights in Faenza are within walking distance from the main square. A few steps away you will find the medieval churches of San Bartolomeo, Santa Maria Maddalena - Commenda (holding a fresco painted in 1533) and Santa Maria Vecchia or ad Nives with a monumental octagonal belltower adorned with double and triple lancet windows (one could also climb up the stairs and be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the area).

A short stroll around town will take you to the Teatro Masini (1780-1788), the 12th-century Palazzo Episcopale housing the Museo Diocesano (containing pictures and gold and silver sacred works of art), and the relaxing tree-lined viali just outside the old town centre.

INFO

IAT Faenza
Tel./ Fax +39 0546 252 31
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - www.prolocofaenza.it

Cattedrale
Tel. +39 0546 664 510

Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche
Tel. +39 0546 697 311, Fax +39 0546 271 41
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - www.micfaenza.org

Palazzo Milzetti
Tel. +39 0546 264 93

Teatro Masini
Tel. +39 0546 213 06

Palio del Niballo
Tel. +39 0546 691 651