The city walls

Itinerary details: The walls still partially surrounding Faenza today date back to the Manfredi period and were erected in various phases between 1380 and 1470, with a comprehensive development of over 5 km (including also Borgo Durbecco, which even separate from the rest of the city, had a contemporary wall belt directly connected to it). The walls were strengthened with towers (originally 35, today there are 26 remaining) and with five large gates, with only the Chiavi gate remaining on the external side (towards Forli) of Borgo Durbecco. Abandonment, building transformations, the opening (especially in the first decades of the 1900’s) of the outskirt avenues and finally the damages caused by the Second World War have reduced the extension of the wall to around 3 and a half km, making it discontinuous and out of context. A few parts remain however very appreciative, especially in an itinerary that joins together historical aspects and naturalistic values. It is possible to begin from the Ponte delle Grazie over the Lamone river and proceed south over Via Renaccio and then Via Lapi, taking the first turn on the right up the overriding Via Mura Torelli and around the semi-circular “Il Torricino”, amongst the best preserved of the entire belt.From here proceed left along a quiet street lined with lime trees that follows the walls from up high and from which it is possible to look out from, especially in the “torricini” that through time have been deprived of the upper merlon terrace and brought down to street level. Down to the bottom to the right to Piazza Fratti (the old Porta Montanara), follow the Stradone where parts of the wall are visible in the beginning up to the bell tower of S.Maria Vecchia. From here the walls turn to the right and they can be seen again along Viale delle Rimembranze, where they can be followed from below, under the pine trees. There are other discontinuous parts in Viale IV Novembre (after Via Naviglio) and towards the end of Viale Ceramiche near the S.Ippolito church. To close the circle from here there is Via Ponte Romano or the above Via Mura Mittarelli, where it is possible to look out over the lime trees.From the Ponte delle Grazie it is possible to deviate to see the parts of surviving wall of the Borgo. We advise the beautiful section on Via S. Pellico, between Via De Gasperi and finally the internal side looking into the Magione Park (see information sheet).