Dozza

the fragrance of wine in Caterina’s Fortress

The Name

The oldest documented report of the name Dozza dates from 1126: castrum Dutie probably derives from the early Middle Ages Latin word doccia, indicating the presence of a conduit for carrying water into a tank or cistern for the people’s use.

Water was once scarce here, and the emphasis on its presence is seen also in the names of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Piscina and the very old parish church of San Lorenzo in Piscirano.

History

• 1087: the vicus, previously inhabited by Gauls, Lombards and Byzantines, and bestowed upon the church of Imola by Charlemagne, is conquered by the Bolognesi, who build a circuit of walls and fortify it; it then acquires the name of castrum Ducie.

• 1412: after bitter fighting between the Ghibelline and Guelf parties, due to its strategic position on the ancient Roman consular road, the Via Emilia, Dozza becomes a fief under the Alidosi family and later the heir in 1728.Riario family.

• 1494: the Rocca is under the rule of the “Lady of Romagna,” Caterina Sforza, who strengthens it as a military instrument and keeps it until 1499, when all castles under the Caterina’s dominion are conquered by Cesare Borgia’s militias.

• 1528: Pope Clement VII grants the fief to the noble Malvezzi family of Bologna. In 1564 Dozza is given in fief to the Campeggi (who obtain the title of marquis from Pius IV) until the death of the last male

• 1730: through strategic marriages the Malvezzi take possession of the Castle once again under the name of Malvezzi-Campeggi.

• 1798: despite the abolishing of the feudal system following Napoleon’s arrival in Italy, the Malvezzi-Campeggi family succeeds in keeping the Rocca, claiming it to be a private residence and living in it as such until 1960, when the Commune purchases it from the Malvezzi-Campeggi heirs.

• 1830: with the exception of a brief insurrectional period, Dozza is once again part of the Papal States.

• 1871: with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, Dozza becomes an independent commune.

The Pleasure of Art in the Warm Atmosphere of Painted Walls

From the drinking griffin represented on the coat of arms to the golden nectar of the Albana grapes grown in a landscape that almost seems Tuscan: there is no better paradox for this village that is set on the first hills above the Via Emilia, between Bologna and Imola. It unfolds discreetly before the visitor who walks down its narrow cobblestone streets until reaching the Rocca (fortress) – powerful, massive, but blending in well nonetheless with the rest of the village, the plan of which is shaped like a boat. Everything, in fact, seems to push, converge, fluidify (water, wine, people, the fragrance of wine coming from cellars and doorways, delicious cooking smells) toward the architectural complex towering above. The Rocca stands at the meeting point of the two roads that cross the village lengthwise, and it has a hexagonal plan with two large towers and a perimeter of 530 m.

Its present appearance is the result of its transformation into a noble palace, done by the Malvezzi in 1594. Crossing the drawbridge, rebuilt according to the original design, the edifice opens onto a central courtyard with two Renaissance-style loggias.

Concerts, performances, and food & wine events are held in the courtyard. On the ground floor is the kitchen, with antique burners, fireplaces, well and utensils. The heart of the residence is the piano nobile (noble floor), with a reception hall with furniture and paintings from the 1700s which opens onto the large terrace. The room next to it has furniture in Renaissance and Baroque styles, a coffered ceiling, and a large canvas portraying the Campeggi family from the late 1600s.

Also worth seeing are the Pius VII Room, the salle d’armes, the “razor well” (a trap with sharp blades sticking out from the sides), the prisons and the solitary confinement cells, the alcove and the watch walkways, which offer a spectacular view over the valleys below covered with vineyards.

In the historic center, murals by important artists lend color and atmosphere. Sights in the center include: the provostal Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Piscina, built in the 12th century over the ruins of an earlier Romanesque church (it contains a panel from 1492 by Marco Palmezzano); the Rivellino, which incorporates the 18th-century village entrance gate; and the Rocchetta, from the 14th century.

In the surrounding area are the parish church of San Lorenzo, the 13th-century Monte del Re convent which is now a hotel, and the 17th-century Sanctuary of the Calanco.

Local Products

Albana was the first white wine in Italy to receive the DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin) classification.

This wine has been produced since ancient times, and lived its period of glory during the time of the Venetian Republic, when it earned the praises of the doges.

Local dishes

Excellent salami, prosciutto, etc.. First courses - made strictly with hand-rolled pasta - include tagliatelle, garganelli (pasta cut with a special “comb”) and tortelli with ricotta and sage.

The ragù is a meat sauce, made with prosciutto or lean. Typical main courses are grilled meats, such as “Florentine” T-bone steak and wether; next are the cheeses, soft such as the very fresh squacquerone or aged such as pecorino pit cheese.

Finally, the flat piadina romagnola, the queen of the table that takes the place of bread. There is a wide choice of wines, among both whites (Albana, Trebbiano) and reds (Sangiovese).