Rocca di Bagnara (Sforza fortress of Bagnara)

The Sforza fortress of Bagnara is a medieval fortress located in Bagnara di Romagna (RA). The fortress was built in the 15th century by the lords of Imola, the Riario-Sforza, on the ruins of the medieval castrum built in 1354 by Barnabò Visconti and destroyed in 1428 in the battle against Angiolo della Pergola. Girolamo Riario, lord of Imola from 1482 to 1488, began the renovation of the fortress, giving it the appearance we still see today. After her premature death, the widow Caterina Sforza had the construction of the fortress completed: the keep and the loggia can be dated to this period. The male is considered by many scholars to be "one of the best works of fortification art of the 15th century in Italy". It is divided into three orders of casemates, made up of very large circular rooms, covered with semi-spherical brick vaults, which are still well preserved. In addition to the keep, elements of notable interest are the central courtyard, still preserved today in its Renaissance appearance, some internal rooms with original wooden ceilings, the iron supports of the drawbridge located at the south, the loggias on the curtains of the East and North sides , the water reserve well and the spiral staircase made up of 78 overlapping sandstone monoliths. All characteristic elements of the "beautiful sixteenth-century style". Starting from the eighteenth century, the building complex was reconverted from military to civil use. In 1732 the pits were drained and reclaimed. The fortress became the residence of the bishop's commissioner; in some periods its premises were also used as a prison. With the end of papal rule the fortress passed to the Kingdom of Italy. Subsequently, the State put it up for sale: the Municipality won it for the price of 2,570 lire, plus 500 lire for the graves (in total, around 15,000 euros in 2002). After the purchase, the Municipality created an ice house in the basement of the structure, on the north side. The Municipality was thus able to supply the old hospital, the butcher's shop and other services for citizens with ice. Subsequently the Municipality set up elementary schools in the fortress, which remained there until 1926, when they were moved to their current location. In 1962 the fortress became the municipal residence. In 2008 the Municipality was re-established in its historic headquarters in Piazza G. Marconi, the central square of the town. The fortress is transformed into a museum. The city museum is set up inside.

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