Faenza


Faenza is a comune with inhabitants in the Province of Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The city is historically renowned for its production of artistic ceramics, to the extent that maiolica, due to the fame of local craftsmanship, is known worldwide as faience.
Of Roman origin, under the rule of the Manfredi, Faenza entered a period of significant growth that peaked during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, shaping its art and architecture. Due to its vibrant artistic and cultural activity, between the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a prominent center of Neoclassicism in Italy and Europe, with the finest example today being the National Museum of Palazzo Milzetti.
Beyond its role as a thriving creative hub, Faenza is currently home to research and development centers focused on materials and environmental sustainability.
Located just west of the heart of Romagna, at the foot of the first slopes of the Faenza Apennines, it serves as the administrative seat of the Union of Faenza Romagna and is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana.

Geography

Territory

The municipality of Faenza is situated in Romagna, in the southwestern part of the Province of Ravenna, along the Lamone River and the Via Emilia, between Imola to the west and Forlì to the east, both approximately 15 km from the city center. It is 35 km from Ravenna, about 40 km from Cesena, and 55 km from Bologna.
The city lies in a foothill area at the boundary between the Po Valley and the initial hills of the Faenza Apennines. The official elevation is 35 meters above sea level, while the municipal territory ranges from a minimum of 13 meters to a maximum of 220 meters above sea level.
The territory of Faenza features an agricultural landscape, divided between vineyards on the hilly slopes and cultivated fields, with traces of ancient Roman centuriation in the plains.
  • Seismic classification: Zone 2

    Climate

Due to its location, Faenza experiences a humid temperate climate with hot summers, exhibiting subcontinental characteristics, influenced by the orographic lift effect of the adjacent hilly areas.
  • Climate classification: Zone E
  • Köppen climate classification: Cfa

    History

The history of Faenza begins in the Roman era, though the city's origins are not precisely defined. Among the early hypotheses is one tied to mythology, but more accurate information emerges from the Roman conquest in the 2nd century BC. Roman dominion over the territory ended in 774 when Charlemagne ceded it to the Papal States. During the Middle Ages, the communal system, widespread in northern Italy, took hold. In this period, the Manfredi family consolidated its power, becoming one of the city's most influential families. Amid numerous conflicts with the Empire, particularly with Frederick II, due to Faenza's allegiance to the Lombard League, the city faced several sieges. In the 16th century, it came under papal control and later emerged as a significant Neoclassical center in Italy. From the last two decades of the 19th century, Faenza experienced notable development but suffered multiple bombings during World War II before its liberation by the Allies.

Symbols

The symbol of the municipality, depicted on its coat of arms, is a rampant lion. The official description of the coat of arms is recorded in the decree of recognition dated 5 July 1928, issued by the then head of government Benito Mussolini, preserved at the Municipal Library of Faenza:
The symbol first appears on a seal, likely from the 14th century, with the inscription "Sigillum Comunis et Populi Civitatis Favencie". The chief of Anjou, a typical Guelph symbol, features five fleurs-de-lis instead of the usual three, alternating with six pendants of the label instead of four. The shield is topped with a city crown.
The gonfalon is a drape divided per fess into white and azure.

Honors

Faenza is among the cities decorated with military valor for the War of Liberation, awarded the War Cross of Military Valor for the sacrifices of its people and its role in the partisan struggle during World War II. It is a member of the National Institute of the Blue Ribbon, which unites all combatants decorated with military valor:
Faenza was among the first Italian cities to celebrate Europe Day and the third in Italy to receive the Europe Prize in 1968 from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, for its efforts in promoting the European ideal.

Monuments and places of interest

Faenza's urban history, like that of many other Emilia-Romagna cities, unfolds through a continuous process of regeneration from its original Roman structure. While this structure was significantly altered in some cases, it persists in the city's geometric layout. The urban fabric, heavily impacted by wartime destruction, retains numerous examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, primarily concentrated in the city center, but is predominantly characterized by 18th- and 19th-century Neoclassical features due to significant building transformations led by architects Giuseppe Pistocchi, Giovanni Antonio Antolini, and Pietro Tomba. These efforts positioned Faenza as a leading center of Neoclassicism in Europe.

Religious architecture

The oldest surviving building in Faenza, largely intact, is the bell tower of Santa Maria ad Nives, or Santa Maria Vecchia, constructed between the 9th and 10th century. Another surviving monument from around the year 1000 is the crypt of the Church of Santi Ippolito. The oldest fully preserved church is the Church of the Commenda, dating to around 1100.
The main place of worship for Catholicism in the city is the Cathedral of San Pietro Apostolo, the mother church of the Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana. Its construction, designed by Giuliano da Maiano, began in 1474 and was not completed before 1515, with the facade remaining unfinished. It was consecrated to Saint Peter in 1581.
Below is a list of the main religious buildings built within the municipal territory:
The main cemeteries are:
  • Osservanza Cemetery: The city's monumental cemetery, named after the adjacent monastery, featuring numerous tombs designed by artists such as Felice Giani, Lucio Fontana, and Domenico Rambelli.
  • Faenza War Cemetery: Known as the "English Cemetery," it houses the graves of soldiers who died during the World War II liberation campaigns, recognized by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

    Civil architecture

Clock Tower

The Civic Tower, located at the entrance to Piazza del Popolo at the intersection of the Roman cardo and decumanus of Faventia, is one of the city's most iconic architectural landmarks. The original design is attributed to Friar Domenico Paganelli, who began its construction in 1604 on a 16th-century rusticated base. The tower is quadrangular, with five superimposed orders and crowned by a dome. At its base, within a niche featuring a balcony with an elegant wrought iron and brass railing, is a marble statue of the Madonna with Child by Francesco Scala, dated 1611. The original tower was destroyed by retreating German forces in November 1944. The current structure is a faithful reconstruction from 1953, retaining the original 17th-century Madonna and Child statue, which survived the collapse.

Main Fountain

The monumental fountain, situated between the Cathedral and the Clock Tower, was commissioned by Domenico Paganelli, who oversaw the construction of a city aqueduct in 1583. Work resumed in 1614, as Paganelli was occupied with other commissions in Rome. On the suggestion of Cardinal Rivarola, he entrusted the construction of a fountain, serving as the terminal point of an underground conduit from Errano, to the Ticino architect Domenico Castelli, who completed the work in 1621. The fountain, adorned with symbolic bronze sculptures by Tarquinio Jacometti in 1619–1620, is a celebrated work. The eagles and dragons represent the heraldic feats of Pope Paul V, while the three rampant lions symbolize the city's coat of arms. The tall iron fence that once protected it was removed in 1869.

Voltone della Molinella

The Voltone della Molinella, a covered passageway with cross vaults at the ground level of Palazzo Manfredi, connects the main square, Piazza del Popolo, to Piazza Nenni, home to the municipal Masini Theatre. The umbrella vault was decorated with grotesque motifs by Marco Marchetti in 1566. Today, the Voltone houses the entrance to the tourist office and the municipal exhibition gallery.

Masini Theatre

The Angelo Masini Municipal Theatre, located in Piazza Nenni, is one of the finest examples of Neoclassical architecture in Faenza. Designed and built between 1780 and 1787 by architect Giuseppe Pistocchi at the request of the Accademia dei Remoti, a group of Faenza intellectuals and artists formed in 1673, the theatre features a horseshoe-shaped layout with four tiers of boxes separated by columns of various styles. It is adorned with frescoes by Felice Giani. The upper tier is enriched with plastic decorations and twenty statues representing Olympian deities, crafted by Antonio Trentanove.

Prospettiva (Fontanone)

The Prospettiva, locally known as the "Fontanone," is a monument serving as the architectural backdrop at the end of Viale Stradone. Constructed in 1824 under the supervision of Pietro Tomba, it replaced an earlier water reservoir from the ancient aqueduct. Commissioned by the Deputation of the Public Promenade and Gonfalonier Antonio Margotti, it was designed to complete the avenue—then a popular strolling area—with a structure serving as a scenic endpoint and a place for rest and refreshment during Sunday walks outside the city gates.

Palaces

Below is a list of palaces of significant historical and cultural interest, from the Middle Ages to the Neoclassical period, in Faenza's historic center:
  • Palazzo Manfredi, in Piazza del Popolo, now the municipal seat. This ancient building underwent several structural and layout interventions over the years. The first significant one, chronologically, is attributed to Astorgio I Manfredi, who in the 14th century gave the palace its initial form, later becoming the residence of his successors, including Carlo II Manfredi, who oversaw numerous renovations, including the loggia. It retains medieval traces, such as the colonnade, the hall of flags with a coffered ceiling, the entablature displaying some of the city's most prominent family crests, and a bifora.
  • Palazzo del Podestà, opposite the municipal palace, represented the third power alongside the Lordship and the People. Historical records suggest it was completed in 1175, with the staircase leading to the upper floor demolished in 1270 to make way for the balcony known as the "arengario," from which speeches were delivered to the public. The recently restored "Arengo" hall was part of a municipal redevelopment project. The Romanesque windows and Ghibelline merlons remain intact.
  • Palazzo Milzetti, at Via Tonducci 15, the most significant Neoclassical palace in the region, featuring decorations by Felice Giani and architecture by Giuseppe Pistocchi. It now houses the National Museum of the Neoclassical Age.
  • Palazzo Mazzolani, at Corso Mazzini 93, an imposing, unfinished structure begun in the late 17th century. The right side of the facade was completed in 1933–34, demolishing pre-existing buildings. It now hosts the ISIA. The entrance hall, inner courtyard, and other spaces house state-owned archaeological material deposits.
  • Palazzo Zauli-Naldi, at Corso Matteotti 2, acquired in the 17th century by a branch of the Naldi family, later passing to the Zauli Counts upon the family's extinction, hence Zauli-Naldi. It features a large portico, known as the "loggia della Pagnocca," where the family distributed bread to the poor. The right side was built in 1835 based on a design by engineer Filippo Antolini.
  • Palazzo Ferniani, at Via Campidori, corner with Via Naviglio, built around the mid-18th century by the Ferniani Counts, designed by Faenza native Gian Battista Boschi, with assistance from Bolognese architect Alfonso Torreggiani. A marble statue of the Immaculate Conception, by Bolognese sculptors Ottavio and Nicola Toselli, adorns the palace's corner.
  • Palazzo Severoli, on the street of the same name, built by the Severoli Counts, featuring frescoes by Felice Giani.
  • Palazzo Cavina, at Via Castellani 22, built around 1740 by Raffaele Campidori for the Naldi family, acquired in the early 19th century by the Cavina Counts, who commissioned Felice Giani to decorate it.
  • Palazzo Zanelli, at Corso Mazzini 52, built around 1750.
  • Palazzo Caldesi, also incorrectly called "Case Manfredi," an original 15th-century building renovated by the Caldesi family in 1778, preserving some medieval and Renaissance elements. Notable features include the 14th-century Gothic arch on Via Manfredi, the coffered ceiling in the same room, the portico with brick arches in the courtyard, and the upper loggia. Of particular value are the 16th-century friezes and 19th-century paintings: four tempera works by Felice Giani dated 1820 and a later decoration by Faenza painter Clemente Caldesi.
  • Palazzo Laderchi, at Corso Garibaldi 2, commissioned in 1780 by Count Ludovico Laderchi to Bolognese architect Francesco Tadolini, now home to the Museum of the Risorgimento and Contemporary Age. Notable are the decorations by Felice Giani in the "Gallery of Psyche" and the "Astronomy Study".
  • Palazzo Gessi, at Corso Mazzini 54, built in 1786 by architect Giuseppe Pistocchi.
  • Palazzo Conti or Conti-Sinibaldi, at Corso Mazzini 47, designed by Giuseppe Pistocchi in 1786, with a gallery decorated by Felice Giani.
  • Palazzo Cattani, at Via Severoli 33, renovated in 1855 by Marquis Giuseppe Cattani based on a design by Ticino-born architect Costantino Galli.
  • Palazzo Zucchini, at Corso Mazzini 85, commissioned in 1865 by Count Luigi Zucchini and designed by engineer-architect Antonio Zannoni, who reinterpreted Faenza's Neoclassical architectural models. The ground floor features six arches, with upper floors framed by large pilasters with Corinthian capitals surrounding the windows and supporting an elaborate cornice displaying family crests.
  • Palazzo Gucci-Boschi, at Corso Matteotti 8–10, with an eclectic facade celebrating the Risorgimento battles of Solferino and San Martino and Volturno, designed for the Gucci Boschi Counts by engineer Achille Ubaldini in 1867.
  • Palazzo Pasolini, at Via Severoli 31, corner with Via Pistocchi, modified in the late 18th century by architect Giuseppe Pistocchi, frescoed in 1818 by Felice Giani. The facade was redone in 1875.
  • Casa Valenti, a 19th-century palace designed by engineer Luigi Biffi in an unusual neo-Gothic style, enriched with fine terracotta elements.
  • Casa Piani-Pasi, a palace from 1807 designed by architect Pietro Tomba.
  • Casa Ricciardelli, a 17th-century building.