Basilica di San Pellegrino Laziosi

The basilica, also known as Santa Maria dei Servi, is linked to San Pellegrino Laziosi, a native of Forlì born around 1265. As a young man he was a fierce opponent of the papacy; then, moved by the words of San Filippo Benizi, he joined the Servite Order and dedicated his life to prayer and the poor.

According to tradition, suffering from a leg ulcer that doctors wanted to amputate, he was healed overnight after praying before the crucifix. For this reason he is invoked as the patron saint of cancer patients, and his tomb in the basilica is a destination for pilgrims from all over the world.

The church, dating from the 14th century, was renovated inside during the 18th century. It preserves valuable works of art, including the funerary monument of Luffo Numai, sculpted in the early 16th century, one of the masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture in Forlì.

The basilica is just a few steps from Piazza Saffi. The saint's feast day is 1 May: this is also why the feast of San Mercuriale, once held on 30 April, was moved to October.