Comune di Fusignano

This town, which gave birth to the famous violinist Arcangelo Corelli, presents itself to the visitor as a pleasant glimpse of that rural Romagna that still survives secluded from the great centers

Birthplace of the celebrated violinist Arcangelo Corelli, Fusignano is a pleasant small town immersed in the countryside of Romagna and calmly detached from the atmosphere of large towns.
The town was known as Castrum Fusiniani; its owners, the Counts of Cunio, in 1250 decided to rebuild here the castle of Donigallia, which had perished in a flooding. Over the centuries its history was intertwined with that of the battles of power of its rulers, amongst which the seigniories of Visconti and Manfredi. However, it was the House of Este that allowed Fusignano to establish its identity; the town’s symbol became the spindle (fuso, in Italian) which still features in the municipal coat of arms.
The town was part of the Papal States and here the Napoleonic period was more positively received than in other towns of the area. The citizens of Fusignano also took part in the Risorgimento quite actively.
World War II caused severe destructions in Fusignano and the town was largely rebuilt and expanded.

THINGS TO SEE

CHIESA ARCIPRETALE DI SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA
Piazza Armandi
This church lies where there used to be a Medieval church which was completely destroyed during World War II in 1945. Designed by the architect Alberto Legnani, it was consecrated in 1956. It houses a series of precious artworks, including a 16th century painting depicting the Baptism of Christ (which has been ascribed to Dosso and Battista Dossi) and the local patron saint icon Beata Vergine Maria Patrona Fusiniani; legend has it that the Capuchin monk Francesco Acquaviva, who created this painting in 1570, painted the image while kneeling.
The contemporary ceramicist Angelo Biancini is the author of decorations with symbols of Christ, they are located next to the door; he also created the ten capitals with the symbols of the Evangelists and with themes related to the Passion of Christ. The crucifix and the fourteen episodes of the Via Crucis are the work of Raoul Vistoli.

CHIESA DEL SUFFRAGIO (OR TEMPIO DEI CADUTI)
Corso Emaldi – Visits during exhibitions, on 25/04 and by appointment
The history of this church is stained with the blood of the fights between the local feudatories Corelli and Calcagnini. The Corelli had their palace on this land, which was destroyed by the Calcagnini following a brutal attack known as “Il Guasto dei Calcagnini”; after the destruction, the palace was sprinkled with salt to prevent anything from growing there again. The Marquis Giulio Corelli wanted to put an end to the fight; he donated the land to the town and in 1753 the church was built thanks to the locals’ voluntary donations.
Following war destructions, the church was restored.
Today it hosts concerts and exhibitions. The bell tower was completely rebuilt in 1955; it houses a ceramic sculpture of a Madonna, made by the artist Aleardo Lega from Faenza, and a bust of Arcangelo Corelli created by Raoul Vistoli. The church has two altars with important altarpieces by Benedetto Dal Buono, a painter from Lugo: The Madonna “del Buon Consiglio” with Saints, The Death of St. Joseph and The Virgin appearing to the dying St Anne.

MONUMENTO A CELIO CALCAGNINI
Piazza Calcagnini
The monument was created at the beginning of the 19th century to celebrate Celio Calcagnini, a 15th century scientist who was also mentioned by Ariosto. Originally the monument was located in the woods of Palazzo Calcagnini. It consists of an urn in the style of Canova. The Calcagnini family donated the monument to the town after World War II, to celebrate their long-standing relationship with Fusignano.

MUSEO CIVICO SAN ROCCO
Via Monti, 4/A – Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and public
holidays, 15:00 – 18:00; extended opening hours during temporary exhibitions; closed 25/12, 01/01 and 15/08 – Free admission Tel. +39 0545 51621 / 955672
The museum is located along the main road of the town centre; it’s hosted in the former 16th century hospital of San Rocco. It houses the “Collezione Amelia e Vincenzo Baroni”, a remarkable collection of ceramic votive plaques, featuring more than 200 items, produced between the 16th and the
20th century in Italy and abroad. Not to be missed: the rare Madonna and child produced in Rimini in 1660 and the one created in 1661 in Montelupo.

MUSEO ROMAGNA AIR FINDERS
Via Santa Barbara, 4/A – Opening hours: first and second Sunday of the month, 14:30 – 17:30 – Tel. +39 348 6719811 / +39 0545 955653
The museum is housed in a small deconsecrated church of the town centre and features military objects from World War II, such as uniforms, weapons, documents and various other items. The curators of the collection are the members of the association Romagna Air Finders, who actively search for the items; so far they have uncovered eighteen aircrafts and eight corpses of pilots. The museum is geared towards military enthusiasts as well as younger generations, with the aim of keeping alive the memory of the horrors of war.

IN THE AREA

CHIESA PARROCCHIALE DI SAN SAVINO
Via Viola, 6 (San Savino) – Tel. +39 0545 50173
The church boasts a monumental marble sarcophagus that makes it worth visiting the village of San Savino. It dates back to A.D. 440 – 450 and is decorated on three of its sides; the front features the monogram of
Constantine and two lambs, the right side has two peacocks drinking from a vase and the left side has two doves on a vine branch adoring the cross.
Despite the sarcophagus’ name, there is no historical evidence that it actually ever accommodated the corpse of St Savino, who suffered martyrdom and was buried in Spoleto. In 1443 Astorgio II Manfredi collected human remains from the sarcophagus and took them to Faenza; the remains were thought to belong to the saint. The church also houses a baptistery, a statue of St Savino by the artist Raoul Vistoli and the Via Crucis made by the ceramists Cornacchia from Brisighella in 1982.

VILLA MONTI
Via Breda, 1 (Maiano Monti)
Located in the village of Maiano Monti, the villa was property of the family
of the famous Neoclassical poet Vincenzo Monti (1754-1828) from when he was 17; the Monti held it till 1914. The house was erected in 1737 and the façade bears a plaque with words by the collector Carlo Piancastelli

MAIN EVENTS
Dates are subject to change. For information please visit the website www.romagnadeste.it

MAY – Il Suono Antico – Baroque music concerts dedicated to Arcangelo Corelli – Tel. +39 0545 955653
SEPTEMBER 8 – Otto Settembre a Fusignano – Traditional Patron Saint celebration – Tel. +39 0545 53335
DECEMBER 8 – È Festa Ragazzi – Art, shows, music, gastronomy, Christmas market and children entertainment in the town centre – Tel. +39 0545 955653

Tourist Information Centre
Corso Emaldi, 115 – Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 12:45; Saturday, 09:00 – 12:00; in winter also Tuesday, 15:00 – 17:00
Tel. +39 0545 955653; fax +39 0545 50164
e-mail urp@comune.fusignano.ra.it
www.comune.fusignano.ra.it
www.romagnadeste.it

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

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