Meldola
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The Meldola Fortress has a turbulent history: changing hands multiple times, besieged and conquered by opposing factions, despoiled, damaged in an earthquake... Built on a rocky mass that dominates the town, it’s one of the biggest fortresses in Romagna, and the citizens of Meldola are particularly proud of it: the first nucleus dates back to the year 1000 when Emperor Otto III and Pope Gregory V granted jurisdiction to the archbishops of Ravenna.
The cause of dispute between Ravenna’s churches and the local counts, in 1350 it was conquered by the Ordelaffi family, while in 1359 Cardinal Egidio Albornoz brought it back under the rule of the pope. Then it passed to the Malatesta family, Cesare Borgia, followed by the Venetians. In 1518 Pope Leo X donated the fiefdom to the Pio family of Carpi.
In 1597 the last descendent of the family sold the fiefdom of Meldola to the Aldobrandini princes and it was subsequently transferred to the Pamphili family. Over the centuries the fortress has been enlarged, strengthened, and embellished multiple times, becoming one of the most remarkable noble residences in the region.
Then came its decline: at the end of the 19th century it was despoiled by Napoleonic troops, and in 1870 a major earthquake severely damaged it. Long abandoned and neglected, in 1995 it was purchased by the Municipality of Meldola, which began a restoration that’s still underway.
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Meldola Ex Ospedale del Santissimo Crocefisso
The building was designed in 1604 by Giambattista Aleotti. Its construction absorbed a pre-existing hospital structure of Medieval origin and the annexed Chapel of the Holy Crucifix.
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Meldola Ponte dei Veneziani
With its five semi-circular archways, it was built at the start of the 16th century, during the Venetian rule, and probably replaced a pre-existing bridge. Destroyed during WWII it was rebuilt with its current physiognomy.
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Meldola Teatro Dragoni
Delightful theatre plan with three levels of balconies, thirteen boxes per level, and a gallery. Its construction began in 1827 and ended in 1877. After a long period of closure it was restored, and starting in the 1980s it returned fully operational.
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Meldola Arena Hesperia e Museo del baco da seta
In past centuries, Meldola was one of the biggest producers in the world of silk, competing with China and Japan. The Silkworm Museum is located in the Arena Hesperia. During the summer this space, named after the famous silent-film star who began her career in Meldola, is used for shows and film screenings.
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Meldola Borgo e Castello di Teodorano
Approximately 10 km from Meldola, along the road to Montecavallo, one comes upon the suggestive village of Teodorano, which dominates the Voltre Valley. The town is enclosed within Medieval city walls, on which the fortress – with origins dating back to the 11th century – stands.
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Meldola Riserva Naturale Bosco di Scardavilla, Museo di Ecologia e Centro Visitatori
The Regional Preserve, with its fifteen hectares of oak woods, is an extraordinary testament of the ancient forest which, long ago, covered most of the surrounding area. Within the reserve, the two nuclei of the ancient monastic settlement of Scardavilla still survive as well.
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Meldola Rocca delle Caminate
Rocca delle Caminate castle, located between Meldola and Predappio, was extremely important during the Renaissance. During the fascist time, it was used by Mussolini as a summer residence. Today it is a high education centre.