Abbey of San Mercuriale

The Abbey of San Mercuriale (1178-1181), dedicated to the first Bishop of Forlì and belonging to the Lombard Romanesque architectural style, is a historic building of extraordinary religious, artistic, and civil importance. Dominated by the impressive Lombard-style bell tower (standing more than 70 meters high), the abbey stands on what was probably a cemetery area, outside the walls, where the bishops of the first Christian community of Forlì were buried. Its current appearance is the result of intense restoration work carried out in the early 20th century.
The façade is home to a true masterpiece in the form of embellishments on the lunette of the entrance doors. Namely, high-relief work known as Sogno e adorazione dei Magi (“Dream and Adoration of the Magi”), dating to the early 13th century and attributed to the Maestro dei Mesi from Ferrara (a master sculptor who remains anonymous). This sculptural work is thought to be one of the first sculpted nativity scenes.Read more