Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista

Cesena's cathedral was begun at the end of the 14th century, around 1385, when the city belonged to the Malatesta family, and completed in the 15th century. The brick façade, sober and vertical, with its portal and rose window, is an example of Romagnol Gothic; the bell tower beside it dates from the 15th century.

The interior has three aisles and houses important works: Renaissance marble altars, sculptures from the Venetian and Lombard schools, and 17th-century canvases. The chapel of the Madonna del Popolo, patron saint of the city, is the place most dear to the people of Cesena.

The cathedral is just a few steps from Piazza del Popolo and the main street: it's easy to include it in a walk through the historic centre, between the Fontana Masini, the Teatro Bonci and the Biblioteca Malatestiana.

Free admission. Visit the church outside Mass times and, if you want to learn more about its works, ask the tourist office in Piazza del Popolo about guided tours of the historic centre.