Ancient border land along the Bidente river, rich in history, ancient castles and small isolated villages, this town has a curious history: it was divided in two by the Bidente river and for a long period had two names: Santa Sofia was the name of the part of the town on the left bank and Mortano the name of the part on the right bank. This division coincided with the border between Papal Romagna and Tuscany. In 1923 the village passed to the province of Forlì and in 1924 passed under the municipal administration of Santa Sofia ratifying the Union.

Witnesses of the ancient religious communities and monastic settlements are the important works of art kept in the churches of Corniolo and Isola.

In Santa Sofia, on the right bank of the river, there is the "Stoppioni" Contemporary Art Gallery. The Art Gallery is connected to the Park of outdoor sculptures.

Santa Sofia also offers natural works of art, which are part of the National Park of the Casentino Forests. In winter, skiing lovers  will find well - equiped skiing facilities and warm hospitality.

Also the Ridracoli Dam, is worth a visit. Nearby you can see the magnificent dam with an artificial lake and a green forest behind it.

 

 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

• Santa Sofia: Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Mortani

Palazzo Giorgi stands in Piazza Matteotti, the main square of Santa Sofia, and was probably built at the end of the 17th century by the Family Mortani. It represents today one the most intresting stately homes in the small town. The back side stands in front of the Parco della Resistenza. In Piazza Matteotti we also the Oratory of is Holiness Crucified and the Town Holl Palace.

Palazzo Mortani is an imposing building dating back to the 16th and 17th century: until 1860 its entrance stairway was crossed by the state border between the Granduchy of Tuscany and the Papal State. 

For further information: phone +39 0543 975428 or +39 0543 075429

• Churches of Corniolo

The church, destroyed by earthquakes in 1918, it was reconstructed in Romanic style during the 20ies. The inside features a nave and a transept with high-value works from the historical and artistic point of view, such as a glass coated low-relief coming from the school of Giovanni della Robbia (1520-1530). Nearby is the Oratorio delle Grazie, a small but original oratory (18th century) with a fresco depicting the Madonna with Child from the 14th century.

For further information: phone +39 0543 980037

Opening hours: worship times

 

• The “Vero Stoppioni” Contemporary Art Gallery

Contemporary art is like one of the family here in Santa Sofia. Let’s just think of the Gallery of contemporary art “Vero Stoppioni” (1920 – 1987), founded in 1990. It was established thanks to “Campigna Prize” and the spirit of Vero Stoppioni its promoter. Stoppioni’s idea was to create a close relationship between the artists and Santa Sofia. Mattia Moreni’s works (1920 – 1999) are certainly the most important.

For further information: phone +39 0543 975428 or +39 0543975429

Opening hours: Sat and Sun 9.30 am/12.30 pm and 3/6 pm; open at other times by advances reservation. 

 

• Park of Outdoor Sculptures

The “Vero Stoppioni” Contemporary Art Gallery is connected to the Park of outdoor sculptures.

It is an open air structure that collects installations by world famous artists in various points of the town creating a unique union between art and environment.

For further information: phone +39 0543 975428 or +39 0543975429

Daily open: Free entrance - Every Days

 

• Casentino Forests, Mount Falterona and Campigna National Park

A part of the territory of Santa Sofia has been declared as National park in 1993.

Its area stretches on two regions: Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany and on three provinces, Forlì-Cesena, Arezzo and Florence.

Among the most suggestive places we count the Forest of Campigna (the core of the protected area), which appears charming and mysterious to city dwellers, we can admire the grasslands of St. Paul in Alpe and the village of Piandelgrado. Here you have the feeling that you could hear the voices of those who lived in these mountains.

You can visit the Park going on foot, by bike or on horseback, but also by skiing, thanks to the ski installation in Campigna.

For further information: phone +39 0543 971375

 

• The Ridracoli Dam, Capaccio’s Control Centre and “Idro”Ridracoli Water Eco-Museum

The barrage of Ridracoli, with his artificial lake, was constructed between the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s.

Its water is cleaned in the centre of purilyng, situated in Capaccio, and it is distributed through the water system of Romagna.

This extraordinary work of man engineering supplies with drinkable water more than 47 Romagnol municipalities (such as the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Rimini, Ravenna and the Repubblic of San Marino, just to mention some) and, in particular, the area of Adriatic coast.

The barrage is situated in the National Park, where it is possible to go on excursions in the surrounding forests and visit the remains of abandoned farmhouse, inhabited by local family till the 50s and 60s.

Some of these buildings emerge or may be seen during the periods of drought. During the excursions on electric boat, around the lake, it is possible to see the typical animals of Bidente Valley, such as ungulates (wild boars and deers), porcupines, birds of prey (eagles, hawks and owls) and even amphibious (tritons and salamanders).

In summer 2004 the “Ecomuseum of Ridracoli” was inaugurated.

It is divided into different thematic sections: faunistic, naturalistic, technological and rural. 

For further information: phone +39 0543 917912

 

LOCAL PRODUCTS:

 

Raviggiolo

Fresh product obtained by the processing of cow’s milk. It is a white and tender dough with a very delicate taste, almost sweet and buttery. It is usually round-shaped and it is from 2 to 4 cm height. It is usually presented on little fern branches.

 

The Romagnola breed

The Romagnola has a light grey coat, almost white and it presents a considerable muscular development, in particular as far as the forelimbs are concerned. It has black horns, long and well made. It is very suitable for boiled and stewed meat and you can  taste it in the many local restaurants.

 

Tortello alla lastra

It has always been considered one of the specialities of the territory lying between Romagna and Tuscany and it is one of the best “poor” foods obtained by the combination of the products of the lands of the Apennine ridge. It presents itself as a big “raviolo” of 10-20 cm of side and 1 cm thick. Common wheat flour and water for the sheet of pasta dough, adding pumpkin, potatoes, garlic, bacon and pecorino cheese for the stuffing. The name of the product comes from the cooking method on a sandstone “slab”.

 

Tele stampate romagnole

In today’s age fabrics are typically used as table clothes, curtains, bedcovers and many other usages. Typical area of production: Romagna. The use of printed fabrics dates back to 1700 when special drapes were used to adorn every ox at the village fair. In Santa Sofia there is a laboratory of drapes, property of Olivetti familily.