Imola’s Castle
Built in 1261, it is a remarkable example of Renaissance castle. It welcomed Niccolò Machiavelli, Caterina Sforza, Cesare Borgia and Leonardo da Vinci. The latter drew the Map of Imola in 1502 from the top of its towers. Today the map is kept at the Royal Library of London. The castle houses a rich collection of ancient weapons and valuable Medieval and Renaissance ceramics. Not to be missed is a walk along its beautiful communication trenches.
P.zza G. dalle Bande Nere
opening hours: from 16th September to 30th April
Saturday 9am - 12am 2:30pm - 6:30pm and Sunday 2:30pm - 6:30pm;
from 1st May to 15th September
Saturday 9am -12am 3pm – 7pm and Sunday 3pm – 7pm
for groups: admission on reservation
Info: tel. 0542 23472 - 602609
musei@comune.imola.bo.it - www.museicivici.comune.imola.bo.it
Palazzo Alidosi in Castel del Rio
Today the fortified Palazzo Alidosi (16th century) is the seat of the Town Hall. Inside you may visit the Renaissance-style "courtyard of the three fountains" with a loggia sustained by three columns and frescoes painted by Giuseppe Pasini.
The upper floors house the Chestnut-Tree Museum and the War Museum with over one thousand artifacts from the First and Second World Wars.
The “Cantinaccia”, a tourist information point providing the opportunity to purchase and taste local products, will open in the underground vault. The Alidosi Bridge, a real masterpiece of civil engineering, has been a national monument since 1897. It is a humpbacked and single-span bridge stretching for 42 metres and 19 metre high.
P.zza della Repubblica, 96
Museo della Guerra e Museo del Castagno
opening hours: Bank holidays 2-6pm for groups: admission on reservation
Info: tel. 0542 95554 - 95906
museo@museoguerra-casteldelrio.it
www.museoguerra-casteldelrio.it
Alidosi Bridge’s Rooms:
for groups: admission on reservation
Dozza’s Castle
The Castle was built by the Town of Bologna in 1250 and it was reconstructed by order of Caterina Sforza in the late 15th century. This strictly military building was turned into a noble residence by the Campeggi family in the late 16th century. Later on the castle was inherited by the Malvezzi-Campeggi family who lived in it until 1960.
Worth a visit is the first floor with the Main Hall, sitting rooms and bedrooms; the kitchen, the prisons, the torture chamber, the communication trenches leading to the towers. The upper floors house the “Painted Wall” Art Gallery, the Mascellani Collection and the Research and Documentation Centre of the “Painted Wall”. The Enoteca Regionale dell’Emilia Romagna is located in the underground vaults.
P.zza Rocca
opening hours: every day except on working Mondays
winter opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-12:30am 2:30pm-5pm (Bank holidays 10am-1pm 2:30pm-6pm)
summer opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-12:30am 3pm-6:30pm (Bank holidays 3pm-7:30pm)
Info: Fondazione “Dozza città d’arte” Rocca tel. 0542 678240
www.fondazionedozza.it
Dozza’s Painted Wall
Every two years this small medieval hamlet turns into a great workshop for the internationally-known artists who are invited to take part into the “Painted Wall” Art Festival. This festival, dating back to 1960, has deeply changed Dozza’ looks – which has also been listed as one of the Nicest Hamlets of Italy – where today more than one hundred paintings can be admired.
This amazing collection of works decorating the walls with their colours and styles have turned Dozza into a unique open-air gallery of contemporary art. The visit to the Painted Wall continues in the Castle housing an Art Gallery with some frescoes ‘peeled’ from outdoor walls for conservation purposes and the Research and Documentation Centre where the sketches and the preparatory studies of the murals are kept.
Info: Rocca di Dozza tel. 0542 678240
www.fondazionedozza.it
Imola’s Palazzo Tozzoni
For centuries this palace was the residence of a local noble family, the Counts Tozzoni, and now it has been turned into a public museum which still keep its original furniture and architectonical structure.
It offers a rich itinerary through luxurious rooms such as the “Late Baroque Apartment”, the main staircase designed by Cosimo Morelli and decorated with sculptures, valuable paintings, collections of prints, medals, stuccoworks and ceramics. The cellars and kitchens of the palace can be also visited. They house an outstanding collection of local rural tools and equipment of great historical interest.
Via Garibaldi, 18
opening hours: 1st May to 15th September:
Saturday 9am–12am 3:15pm–7:15pm and Sunday 3:15pm–7:15pm
16th September to 30th April:
Saturday 9am–12am 2:45pm– 6:45pm and Sunday 2:45pm–6:45pm.
for groups: admission on reservation
Info: tel. 0542 602609
musei@comune.imola.bo.it - www.museicivici.comune.imola.bo.it
Museum of San Domenico in Imola
Municipal Picture-Gallery and “Giuseppe Scarabelli” Museum, Archaeological Department
The Picture-Gallery was established in the mid 19th century and it is located in the cloister of the former convent of Santi Nicolò and Domenico, next to the same-name church. It contains paintings of different historical periods and schools.
On display are works by Innocenzo da Imola, Lavinia Fontana, Bartolomeo Cesi, A. Margotti, M.G. Dal Monte, G. Sartelli while the contemporary art section features works by Guttuso, De Pisis, Casorati.
The Museum of Archaeology and Natural Sciences “G. Scarabelli” is currently closed for restoration works. For the time being, an archaeological section showing finds from Paleolithic settlements and from Bronze Age sites can be visited.
Via Sacchi, 4
opening hours: Saturday and Sunday 4pm-7pm
for groups: admission on reservation
Info: tel. 0542 602609
musei@comune.imola.bo.it - www.museicivici.comune.imola.bo.it
