Philosophers and painters, writers and scholars, stars of the screen and playwrights, poets and adventurers - Romagna can boast them all. Some better known than others, but all having played an important part in the region's rich cultural history. Here is a small selection, listed in chronological order according to date of birth..

Tito Maccio Plauto (254 a.C- 184 a.C.)
The great playwright responsible for the best of latin drama ; without doubt Sarsina's most illustrious heir. Though using Greek comedy as his model, Plauto added elements of the Italic tradition to the themes of Latin comedy and adapted them for the Roman public.
Extremely popular with many followers, at the time of his death Plauto had written 130 commedies, which Varrone later reduced to 21 of the highest quality.

S. Ellero (476 d.C. - 568 d.C.)
Founder of an abbey at Galatea which for many years enjoyed enormous political power in all Romagna Toscana. He was born in Tuscia, but went to Galatea when he was just twelve years old. The saint is believed to have possessed healing powers, and to have calmed a storm during an historic meeting with Emperor Teodorico.

Papa Pasquale II (l050 - 1118)
Born in Bleda near the island of Santa Sofia. In 1099 he fought to liberate the church from German rule. He was first a monk, and then an ambassador for the catholic church in Spain .This extremely important figure in the church died on the night of the 20th of January 1118.

Ambrogio Traversari (1386 - 1439)
Born in Portico di Romagna and educated at the " S.Maria degli Angeli" monastery in Florence. He was known as "The friend of the greeks" because of his work in unifying the latin and greek churches at the councils of Basilea (1431), Ferrara (1437) and Florence (1439).
His knowledge of greek theology and language, made him the most valuable negotiator at the vatican concils.He was entrusted with writing the "Bolla di Unione" unifying the greek and latin churches know as the "Laeutur Coeli".
He was at the heart of Florence's cultural, political and religious life for over twenty years (1418 - 1439); proving himself to be a tireless researcher of manuscripts and a fine translator of philosophical and theological works. Other than his diary "Hodoeporicon" he also wrote "L'Epistolarium", a record of his correspondence with the most important figures of the church and state of the time.

Michele Valbonesi (1731-1808)
Born in the provincial town of Ranchio, Valbonesi is considered to be one of the most important artists living in Val Borello and Val di Savio during the second half of the eighteenth century.
It is known that he spent some years of his apprenticeship in Bologna supported by local patrons, and that he met the favour of archibishop don Pietro Gabriello Massi, one of the most important figures of the Diocese of Sarsina. Valbonesi's most important work was completed between 1750 and 1760, it was during this period that he was commissioned to paint many works with a religious theme. We can assertain from Ranchio's archives that the painter no longer lived in the town of his birth from 1764 onwards.The reason for this can be considered to be the economic cricis which hit Cesena's economy from 1760 to 1770, and would have resulted in a lack of work for the painter.
In 1775 Valbonesi was one of a number of painters and architects who took part in the preparation of scenes for the celebrations which took place on Gianangelo Braschi's election to the pontiff of
Pope Pio VI. Between 1770 and 1780 Michele Valbonesi was one of those responsible for the upkeep of the "Porto canale di Cesena", while also finding time to paint a canvas for the church of
S.Giacomo and S.Cristoforo in Cesena which was unfortunately lost in 1994. He enjoyed a great deal of popularity during his lifetime, was one of Sarsina's town councillors and a majour land owner.
Among his most noteable works are: "Transito di S.Giuseppe e i Santi Antonio Abate e Romano"
(S.romano parish Church); "Martirio di S.Bartolomeo" (Ranchio parish Church); "Martirio dei Santi Cosma e Damiano" (S.Damiano Church); "Vita e Miracoli di S.Vicinio"(Sarsina Cathedral);
"Riposo durante la fuga in Egitto" (Museum of the Diocese of Bertinoro); and "Decollazione di
S.Giovanni Batttista" (Bertinoro Cathedral).

Don Giovanni Verità (1807 - 1885)
The much discussed priest of Modigliana, "The Saviour of Garibaldi" as he became known to his fellow citizens, was both a wonderful priest and patriot, at the heart of the Renaissance.
Much loved by the people of Modigliana for his kind and humble nature, and his everyday work in helping the poor. Verità was arrested for his involvement in the "Carbonari uprisings": he offered shelter to escaping patriots at his home, one of whom being Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was deeply grateful to the priest.

Felice Orsini (18l9 - 1858)
Born in Meldola, this patriot was executed in Paris on the thirteenth of March 1858 for his failed attempt to assassinate emperor Napoleon III on January the fourteenth of the same year. Orsini had studied at the University of Bologna where in 1843 he graduated in law.
He was responsible for the organization of a secret patriotic organization named "I Figli della Patria".

Silvestro Lega (1826 - 1896)
This great impressionist painter was born in Modigliana into a large and poor family.
Although he showed an aptitude for art from an early age, he was handicapped by his family's economic difficulties. Therefore Silvestro decided to move to Florence to study at Mussini's academy.
While at first using the "purist" style of the fourteenth century painters, he later matured adopting an impressionist style known as "La Macchia": the painting technique in which rather than colouring in a drawing, he used splashes of colour directly applied to the canvas.
It is for the work he completed during this period that he is most famous, and make him one of the most important artists of his age. He was also involved in politics, and as a patriot fought in the wars of the renaissance.
He suffered from health problems throughout his life, his worsening eyesight making his work ever more difficult.
He died at the "S.Giovanni di Dio" hospital in Florence.

Padre Damiano (185l - 1891)
This great musician, organ player of the "Santuario della Verna" and composer, was born in
Rocca S.Casciano.He began studyng music in his home town playng in the local band but his dream
was to become a franciscan monk in Verna, a place that he loved, but not at all suitable for someone of his delicate health, and which resulted in a premature death. First a man of the church and second a musician, Padre Damiano was official organist of the Verna from 1876 and left an extrordinary body of work on his death. He composed both vocal and instrumental pieces, many of which are kept at the archives of the "Santuario della Verna".
He is buried in "La Chiesa degli Angeli" church.

Manara Valgimigli (1876-1955)
Born in San Piero in Bagno, Vagimigli was a translator of ancient greek, a fine literary critic, curator of the work of Carducci and Pascoli, lecturer at the University of Messina and the director of the Classe library near Ravenna until 1948. He was also the writer of the unforgettable "Mantello di Lebete".

Don Giulio Facibeni (1884 - l958)
An orphan himself, Facibeni founded in his home town of Galeata a childrens' home named
"Opera Madonnina del Grappa". The most famous of his childrens' homes was founded in Florence which today houses orphans from all over the world.
Today the institute has sent missions to Abania and Brazil and the homes in both Galeata and Florence have offered accomodation to young catholic and muslim people from Albania, Somalia, Eritrea and Morocco.
Don Giulio Facibeni is buried in Florence in the Rifreddi cemetary.

Hesperia (1885 - 1959)
The great star of the silent screen was born in Bertinoro, but grew up in Meldola. Hesperia (real name Olga Mambelli), first set foot on the stage at the tender age of twelve. Within ten years she had become a star of the variety show. In 1912 she made the first of over seventy films before giving up the cinema when she married in 1923, becoming the contess Olga Negroni.

Filippo Zappi (1895 - 1961)
Born in Mercato Saraceno, Zappi was the lieutenant commander of the Royal navy, and the navigator of the airship "Italia" during its unfortunate trip to the North pole which left Milan on the night of the 14th of April 1928.
Due to strong winds, fog and snow the airship touched an iceberg on the 25th of May and Zappi and the commander Umberto Nobile were thrown on to an ice-pack. Soon after, the airship itself, and the seven people on board fell to the ice. A rescue mission was sent and Zappi was saved, despite great difficulty, on the 12th of July 1928.

Padre Venanzio (1931 - 1994)
This great poet and translator was born in Montetiffi (Sogliano). As an artist he organized and participated in important exhibitions of figurative art. He also gave seminars at the universities of Bologna, Ferrara and Venezia. He was brother superior of the cappucini friars from 1981 to 1987.
From 1961 on the publication of some of his poetry in "Fiera Letteraria", he dedicated himself to poetry alone. He is buried in a small cementary in Montetiffi.

Benedetta Bianchi Porro (1936 - 1964)
A young woman who gave inspiration and faith to many through her writings and teachings.
Porro, who died at just twenty-eight years of age after a series of serious illnesses, is a shining example of the power of faith.
Her writings (Diary extracts, Letters and Philosophy) express her profound thoughts on the nature of life and pain and have been translated into many languages including Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. She has recentely been venerated by the church.