Town in the province of Ravenna, located near the border with the territories of Bologna, Bagnara di Romagna is a splendid example of medieval "castrum", built in a plain, situated in the lowlands of Ravenna, where it is still possible to observe traces of the Roman centuriation (an antique system of farming land divisions), as well as relics from the Etruscan and the Villanova perods. Mentioned for the first time in a document of 855 as "Balnearia", when the fund was donated by the Duke of Imola Gisolfo to the Archbishop of Ravenna. The ancient "castrum" was completely destroyed in 1222 during a clash between Faenza and Bologna. Over the later centuries, the town submitted the domain of several noble lords: the Uguccione della Faggiola, the Manfredi, the Ordelaffi, the da Polenta, the Sforza, the Malatesta and the Este. In 1482 the rule was assigned to Girolamo Riario, who took over after the death his widow Caterina Sforza. Later followed the periods of domain of the French, the Borgia and, finally, of the Papal States.
Sites of Interest:
- the Castle pits and fortified walls, a defense system completed in 1354 by Barnabas Visconti;
- the Sforza Castle, the symbol of the city, built in the XIV century by Barnabas Visconti. The current structure dates from the XV century, built on the ruins of the former one. Besides the main keep, of which it is possible the higher floor, a visit to the lower levels is worth a while and a look at the other tower, located to the eastside, which recalls the ancient Visconti way of building and is a real jewel of architecture. Not to miss are the defensive systems with its cannons, the elegant loggia of Catherine, the Courtyard, recently restored and the Boardroom. On its walls are on display, eight valuable paintings, masterpieces of the XVII and XVIII centuries, the legacy of a noble of Bologna. Today, the complex houses the Castle Museum, which exhibits interesting archaeological finds, traced in the area;
- the Deacon Church of Saints John and Andrew, originally built in the XV century and rebuilt several times in later centuries, with a valuable statue of the Madonna in terracotta, a XVI century baptismal font, a XV century shrine and an XVIII century organ;
- the XV century Church of the Nativity, today used as an auditorium;
- the Church of the Soccorso, built in the XVIII century and designed by Cosimo Morelli.