The Romei street in Passo Serra
The Romei street in Passo Serra: on the trail of medieval pilgrims
Bagno di Romagna offers one of the main routes followed by the medieval pilgrims in order to reach the Holy City of Rome. Two streets equipped with hospitalia joined together in Bagno and broke away from Via Emilia in Forlì and Cesena. The first one followed the route of the contiguous Bidente valley. It was an important via romea peregrinorum, quoted in thirteenth-century guide book for north European pilgrims ("Annales Stadense auctore Alberto" and "Iter de Londinio in Terram Sanctam") and considered as the best road to get to Rome from Bolonia. The second one, described in details in 1371 ("Descriptio Romandiole" by Anglic de Grimoard), followed the route of the Savio river, passing through Mercato Saraceno and Sarsina.
Once arrived at "Balneum Sanctae Mariae", a small castle protected by walls, the pilgrims found inns, a hospitale, help and comfort from Camaldoli monks. They also had free access to the four thermal baths, whose healthy waters brought them relief after their long travel. In this way, they recovered their strengths and could face the Apennine, crossing it – as recommended in thirteenth-century book guides – through the "Strada dell'Alpe di Serra" to reach Arezzo and then Rome, or through the "Passo del Coronaro", directly leading to the Tevere valley.
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