Originally called “Forum Livii”, there is no concrete evidence or specific dates for the foundation of the town before the 5th century, when the Via Emilia was built by the Romans. This long road connected the main towns of that time by crossing the region diagonally, thus facilitating trade. Forlì was a quiet place for decades and a good agricultural centre.

At the beginning of 1200, the town was conquered by groups of barbarians. It is important to point out that the town aspired to be a Republic, so it fought for the Emperor in every battle against the Pope and hence came to be known as a town that was loyal to the reign. This acquired fame led to a series of battles against other towns like Faenza and Bologna, which sided with the Pope.

A ruler who played a very important role in the town’s history is undoubtedly Caterina Sforza. She was a very strong woman who exerted direct rule over the town; she had 10 sons and three husbands. The fortress of Forlì is where she lived. However, her reign was rather short, as the town was taken over by the conqueror Cesare Borgia.

The 19th century was decisively a turning point for Forlì’s history. The first alliances were made and battles fought for the unification of Italy, following the example of the French Revolution. Famous men took part in this historical turning point: one of them was Aurelio Saffi, who played a significant role in the first Republic, and to whom the main square of Forlì is dedicated.

The town strongly relied on agriculture for centuries. It saw the development of workers’ associations and people’s Parties and it was involved in many agricultural battles for the improvement of farmers’ conditions. Catholic organisations were founded and they created the first society for the protection of workers and the Chamber of Work.

In the 20th century, Benito Mussolini, born in the near-by town of Predappio, played a central role in the national political scene. He became the leader of Fascist Italy and ruled as a dictator for over 20 years. During his regime, many monuments and buildings were destroyed and then rebuilt as they were originally. The same phenomenon took place after the Second World War, but not everything (the theatre, for example) was rebuilt.

Nowadays, Forlì is an economically and socially active town with a rich cultural heritage.