Duomo The Duomo of Forlì, one of the symbols of the religious and civil history of the city, has been known since the 10th century. A large fresco, placed in the apse of the presbytery and painted in 1863 by Pompeo Randi, illustrates the invention and the recognition of the Holy Cross (Invenzione e il riconoscimento della Santa Croce), to which the church is dedicated. In its long history, the Duomo has undergone several changes. Rebuilt after a fire in the second half of the 12th century, it was completely restored in the 15th century and consecrated in 1475. A few decades earlier a miracle took place in this church, which is the reason why, to this day, citizens hold it particularly dear to their hearts. On February 4th 1428 a school near the Duomo was completely destroyed by a fire that left only a shred of wall with an image of the Madonna, later called Madonna del Fuoco (Virgin of the Fire), who was venerated in that school. Acknowledging the miraculous event, citizens immediately brought the image in procession to the Cathedral, first placing it in the chapel to the right of the presbytery, where the baptistery is today. In 1636 it was placed in the newest chapel that was dedicated to the Madonna del Fuoco and the cupola was decorated with Guido Cagnacci and Carlo Cignani's works. Nowadays, citizens come still numerous praying their Patron Saint, especially during the novena in anticipation for the feast which is solemnly celebrated on February 4th every year. In the nineteenth century, the Cathedral was almost completely rebuilt and consecrated on October 1st 1890. In 1944, during World War II, the bell tower of the Cathedral, undermined by the Germans, collapsed destroying part of the presbytery, the sacristy and the Madonna del Fuoco chapel.
