 Introduction
Faenza is an old Italian town, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna. Legend says that Faenza's original name rendered in Latin was Faoentia, meaning Splendeo inter deos or I shine among the Gods.
The town is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as faience.
It is the seat of the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana and used to be the seat of the diocese of Faenza.
Situated at the foot of the first Sub Apennine hills, the town enjoys a fine location and evocative agrarian surroundings: vineyards in the hills, cultivated land with traces of the ancient Roman land-division system, and fertile market gardens in the plains. In the nearby green valleys of the rivers Samoggia and Lamone there are great number of 18th and 19th century stately homes, set in extensive grounds or preceded by long cypress-lined driveways.
 Arrival
By Plane
Nearest airports are Bologna Airport (50 Km), Ravenna airport and Forli (15 Km).
By Train
Milano - Lecce,
Ravenna - Faenza,
Firenze - Faenza.
Major lines from Bologna, Venice, Ancona & Ravenna.
By Car
From Bologna or Rimini: on the A14 Highway for Faenza.
From Rome: on the E45 for Cesena nord, then A14 highway for Bologna and Faenza.
By Bus
There are also numerous bus services available from the airports and train stations.
 History and Culture
Of Roman origins, Faenza is a splendid city of art whose fame already shone in the Renaissance period of the production of exquisitely made pottery that was exported all over Europe. According to mythology, the name of the first settlement, Faoentia, had Etruscan and Celtic roots, meaning in Latin Splendeo inter deos or I shine among the Gods, in modern English. The very name, coming from the Romans who developed this center under the name of Faventia, has become synonymous with ceramics (majolica) in various languages, including French (faience) and English (faience).
After a period of decadence from the 2nd century to the early Middle Ages it regained prosperity from 8th century on. Around the year 1000 with the government of the Bishops and subsequently in the age of the Commune the city began a long period of richness and building expansion which reached its peak with the rule of the Manfredi family. First consuls were elected in 1141 and in 1155 a podesta was in charge of government of the city. In the wars between Guelphs and Ghibellines that began in the following years Faenza was at first loyal to the emperor. In 1178, however, it changed side and entered the Lombard League. The inner disputes anyway favoured acquisition of power by Maghinardo Pagano, who remained podesta and capitano del popolo for several years.
At the beginning of the 14th century the Guelph family of Manfredi began a rule over Faenza that was to last for almost two centuries. The peak of splendor was reached under Carlo II Manfredi, in the second half of the century, when the city centre was renewed. In 1488 Galeotto Manfredi was assassinated by his wife: his son Astorre III succeeded him, but was in turn killed in Rome as a prisoner of Cesare Borgia, who had captured Faenza in 1501.
After a brief period of Venetian domination Faenza became part of the Church States until 1797. So the city we see today was formed over a long arc of historical evolution and enriched over the years by fine architecture with strong Renaissance and Neoclassical features.
 Churches and Museums
The Cathedral
Of clear Tuscan influence, it is one of the highest expressions of Renaissance art in Romagna, built to Giuliano da Maiano's design; it was begun in 1474 and completed in 1511. The marble decoration of the façade remained unfinished. The interior, nave and two aisles with obvious references to Brunelleschi's San Lorenzo in Florence, houses numerous works of Renaissance art, chiefly sculptures, among which the tombs of St. Terence and St. Emilian (Tuscan school of the 15th century) and that of St. Savinio, perhaps done in Florence by Benedetto da Maiano.
Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche
In Viale Baccarini we find the richly stocked Ceramic Museum with majolica of the area and ceramics from all over the world.
Pinacoteca/Museo Civico
In a palace in Via Santa Maria dell'Angelo are the Pinacoteca, with paintings by old masters of Emilia and Romagna (wooden statue of St Hieronymus by Donatello and his pupils) and the Museo Civico. A building in Corso Matteotti houses the modern department of the Museo Civico (Fattori, Signorini, Rodin, De Pisis, Morandi and others).
 Historical buildings and monuments
The Palazzo del Podesta and the Town Hall
Both of these with medieval origin, stand in Piazza del Popolo. The former was largely restored in the early 20th century while the latter - radically transformed in the 18th century - was the Palazzo of the Captain of the People and later the residence of the governing Manfredi family.
Palazzo Milzetti
Is the richest and most significant Neoclassical building in the region.
The Teatro Masini
It is one of the finest theatres in Italy.
 Places of Interests
The Goldsmiths Portico
Located opposite the Cathedral are the open galleries built in the first decade of the 17th century, and the monumental fountain whose bronzes date to the same period.
Clock Tower
The Clock Tower, in front of the entrance to the Piazza, is a postwar rebuilding of the 17th century tower that stood at the crossroad of the cardo and the decuman gate of the Roman Faventia.
The Villa Case Grandi dei Ferniani
This Villa has a collection of 18th and 19th century Faenza ceramics.
 Events
The Palio del Niballo - June
An incredible horse back tournament evocative of the struggles faced during Manfredi rule, between horsemen representing Faenza and other localities in the area.
The Florence - May (last weekend)
A 100 kilometer marathon that attracts athletes of all nationalities
 Links
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