The Rocca Malvezzi-Campeggi, also known as the Rocca Sforzesca di Dozza, or just Rocca di Dozza, is a medieval castle in the town of

Dozza Dozza ( rgn, Dòza) () is an Italian ''comune'' in the province of Bologna. Dozza is known for its festival of the painted wall, which takes place every two years in September. During this festival, famous national and international artists paint p ...

, in the region of

Emilia Romagna egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title ...

, Italy. The general layout of present structure was likely built in the 13th century atop more ancient foundations. However, it was reconstructed many times through war. The main outline we see in 2020 dates from the end of the 15th century, when

Caterina Sforza Caterina Sforza (1463 – 28 May 1509) was an Italian noblewoman, the Countess of Forlì and Lady of Imola, firstly with her husband Girolamo Riario, and after his death as a regent of her son Ottaviano. Caterina was a noblewoman who lived a ...

, daughter of the Duke of Milan and wife of

Girolamo Riario Girolamo Riario (1443 – 14 April 1488) was Lord of Imola (from 1473) and Forlì (from 1480). He served as Captain General of the Church under his uncle Pope Sixtus IV. He took part in the 1478 Pazzi conspiracy against the Medici, and was ass ...

, commissioned refurbishment from the architect

Giorgio Marchesi Giorgio may refer to: * Castel Giorgio, ''comune'' in Umbria, Italy * Giorgio (name), an Italian given name and surname * Giorgio Moroder, or Giorgio, Italian record producer ** ''Giorgio'' (album), an album by Giorgio Moroder * "Giorgio" (song), ...

. Riario was the grandson of

Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV ( it, Sisto IV: 21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484), born Francesco della Rovere, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 to his death in August 1484. His accomplishments as pope include ...

. Marchesi, with the help of some of the military engineers working for the Sforza, helped design the defensive towers, moat, and merlons. In the 1500s, the castle was granted by

Pope Clement VII Pope Clement VII ( la, Clemens VII; it, Clemente VII; born Giulio de' Medici; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 November 1523 to his death on 25 September 1534. Deemed "the ...

to the Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggi. He converted the castle into a residence, roofing the courtyard and creating open loggias. In 1728, the passing of Lorenzo Campeggi, the last male heir of the Campeggi, the castle passed to the Francesca Maria Capeggi, married to Matteo Malvezzi. Their son, carried forth the name of Malvezzi-Campeggi. In 1798, the Napoleonic occupation of the region abolished the feudal domains, but the castle remained in the hands of the family until 1960. In 1960, the castle-palace was acquired by the Commune. The main hall still has portraits of Malvezzi and tapestries with the family coat of arms. The castle still has a portrait of the Campeggi family by

Lorenzo Pasinelli Lorenzo Pasinelli (September 4, 1629 – March 4, 1700) was an Italian painter active mainly in Bologna during the late Baroque period. He was born in Bologna, and initially trained in the studio of Simone Cantarini. He then pursued studies in ...

. The castle is now used by the commune for exhibitions, including their collection donated by Norma Mascellani and some of the artists who have participated in the town's biennial festival of the ''Muro Dipinto''. The cellars sponsor a regional Enoteca for Emilia-Romagna.Comune of Dozza
entry on castle.

References

Castles in Emilia-Romagna {{italy-castle-stub