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 fortress was built in 1050 and passed through the hands of several noble families including the Malatesta, Ordelaffi, and Borgia. It became municipal property in 1995.
The fortress displays traces of its role as a noble residence, particularly through artistic additions made by Count Pio da Carpi around 1535. Visitors today can still see remnants of these Renaissance enhancements in the stonework.
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.
Around 1359, roughly twenty families lived within the fortress walls before Cardinal Albornoz reclaimed the structure for the Church. This dense settlement shows how the fortress once served as a refuge complex for the local population.
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