Located on the valley floor along the Savio River and the E/45 main highway, San Piero in Bagno is the most important centre and the administrative capital of the municipality of Bagno di Romagna. It hosts activities in construction, forestry, metalworking and clothing, along with a well-developed network of services, restaurants, hotels, and leisure and sports facilities.
Founded in the 13th century as the “mercatale” of the hilltop castle of Corzano, it grew under long Florentine rule, and to this day the Wednesday morning market remains a lively occasion for meeting, exchange and laughter among residents of the area and the surrounding valleys.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town acquired an elegant character thanks to the eclectic work of Florentine architect Cesare Spighi, who designed and built the parish church, the school building, the monumental cemetery, Palazzo Rivalta Paganelli and the town hall, skilfully combining stone and brick.
The well-preserved historic centre can be easily enjoyed on foot, allowing visitors to admire the two 18th-century bridges over the Savio and the Rio, the airy square that hosts the bustling weekly market, framed by elegant 16th–17th-century buildings. These are also found along the surrounding streets where, blending with bourgeois residences and smaller buildings, they create an urban fabric with a distinctly Tuscan character.
From the very centre of the square, you can take the uphill road that leads directly to the Autosufficienza Farm: a 3 km stretch surrounded by fields and woodland, also very pleasant to walk.
Heading south-east instead, you can follow the characteristic cycling and walking path that leads to Bagno di Romagna.
A visit to this area would not be complete without tasting the many delicious local products that further define the territory, such as “tortello alla lastra” and “raviggiolo”, the famous fresh cheese prepared and served on fern leaves, boasting a tradition of over 500 years.
