His real name is Bagnara. Bagnara di Romagna it arrived only later, with a Royal decree, to distinguish the municipality of Romagna from the municipality of Bagnara Calabra. Regardless of the name, this corner ofEmilia Romagna deserves to be discovered. It's a castle perfectly preserved medieval, and rises along those Stradelli Guelfi that - once - served as a path parallel to the Via Emilia connecting castles, villas and churches.
The Rocca Sforzesca
The entire village of Bagnara di Romagna deserves a visit, and some in-depth analysis. It is in fact one of the most beautiful medieval castles, to the point that its keep (tower higher than the others) is considered by various scholars to be the best example of fifteenth-century fortification art in Italy. Here, therefore, we come here above all to visit the Sforza Fortress. Commissioned in the thirteenth century by Barnabò Visconti in the fourteenth century, the fortress consisted of a moat that surrounded a wall in which the actual building was inserted. In the following years numerous interventions were carried out, up to the last works on the keep in 1479, which were followed by times of instability. The fortress was transformed into the residence of the bishop of Imola, and changed its appearance a little. Then, in the seventeenth century, the drawbridge was also eliminated.
Today it is possible to visit the top, the casemates and the basement. You can enjoy its architecture, Caterina's object, the courtyard and the reception room with its XNUMXth and XNUMXth century paintings. Additionally, you can access the Castle Museum to learn about the history of the area (admission costs 2,5 euros or 4 with a guided tour).
What to see in Bagnara di Romagna
There is not only the Rocca Sforzesca, in Bagnara di Romagna. Opposite the fortification, it is worth a visit there Archpriest Church of Saints John and Andrew. The work kept here is splendid, a terracotta "Madonna del Pubblico Vow", but to admire are also the baptismal font, the fifteenth-century tabernacle and the eighteenth-century organ. Also inside the church, you can visit the parish museum of sacred art. Here are kept the altarpiece "Madonna and Saints" by Innocenzo da Imola, a wooden crucifix from the school of Donatello and numerous devotional pottery. Finally, the Pietro Mascagni Museum it is a tribute to the musician, wanted by his chorister Anna Lolli (a native of here).
Finally Villa Morsiani which, a destination for visitors from all over the world, is one of the most important historic homes in Emilia Romagna. Built in the XNUMXth century, it played a military role in the past. Today it is an elegant residence, embraced by a centuries-old park. Its interior, thanks to the sixteen fireplaces from different eras and a library with over twenty thousand volumes, leaves you breathless.
Featured photo taken from Wikipedia (credit Ercolanc - CC BY-SA 4.0)
