Born in San Mauro di Romagna on Dec. 31, 1855, and died in Bologna on April 6, 1912, Pascoli was an Italian poet, academic and literary critic, an emblematic figure in late 19th-century Italian literature, considered, along with Gabriele D’Annunzio, to be Italy’s greatest decadent poet, despite his primarily positivist background. From Sogliano were the poet’s maternal grandmother Olimpia Alloccatelli, his maternal aunt Rita Vincenzi, who married Placido David from Sogliano, and his other aunt Luigia known as Gigia who married the town secretary Alessandro Morri; his sisters Ida and Maria were educated in the Augustinian convent from 1874 to 1882. Sogliano al Rubicone represents a happy youthful interlude for Pascoli, and several poems are poetic echoes from our area such as “Il Pellegrino,” “To Ida and Maria,” “Placido” “L’asino,” “Digitale Purpurea,” “Suor Virginia,” “Le monache di Sogliano,” and “L’addio.” “”Piccolo grandemente amato paese di Romagna” are poetic words dedicated to Sogliano al Rubicone that we find at the entrance to the village. Pascoli was granted honorary citizenship in 1906.