Rocca di Meldola, Medieval fortress in Meldola, Italy

Rocca di Meldola is a medieval fortress built on a limestone outcrop, featuring high ramparts, a crenellated bell tower, and a keep tower. The structures dominate the Bidente valley and display the typical layout of a medieval fortification.

The first records of a defensive settlement predate the year 1000; in 1158 Bonifacio handed the castle and its court to Archbishop Anselmo of Ravenna. It passed to the Church of Rome in 1283, was taken by the Ordelaffi in 1350 and lost in 1359 to Cardinal Albornoz, then held by the Malatesta from 1379. In 1503 the Venetians restored it and rebuilt the Sant'Andrea gate; Leo X granted the fief to Alberto III Pio in 1518.

Meldola became the capital of a small fief held by Leonello Pio di Carpi and his wife, Countess Ippolita Comnena, after Pope Leo X granted the territory to Alberto III Pio on 11 March 1518. Leonello turned the fortress from a defensive structure into a princely residence and improved the town, restoring the aqueduct, founding the Monte di Pietà and building the church of San Rocco. Little of his work on the rocca survives.

The Municipality of Meldola is currently carrying out restoration work on the fortress, so it is not open to visitors. It is advisable to check the current status of the site before planning a visit.

Pope Clement VIII visited the castle on 3 December 1598 and blessed the new bell hung in the keep tower. The bell was placed under the Aldobrandini, who bought the fief of Meldola and Sarsina from Rodolfo Pio in 1597 for 140,000 gold scudi.