Cesena

Cesena lies near the Apennines, inland from the Adriatic coast of Romagna. Its hilltop fortress, the Rocca Malatestiana, looks over a city whose fortunes were long contested by papal authority and local lords. The Malatestiana Library, founded by Malatesta Novello, preserves a distinguished collection of manuscripts.

In 1357 papal forces under Cardinal Albornoz took Cesena after a long siege defended by Cia degli Ordelaffi. The city revolted again in 1377 and was retaken by troops under the papal legate Robert of Geneva; thousands of civilians were killed. Under the Malatesta, who ruled from 1379 to 1465, Cesena recovered and its fortress was rebuilt overlooking the town. After Novello died, Cesena returned to the Papal States. Cesare Borgia took the city in 1500 and made it the capital of his short-lived duchy.