Rocca delle Caminate

The fortress stands on the ridge between the Bidente and Rabbi valleys, above Meldola. It has medieval origins and belonged to many families before falling into ruin after an earthquake. It was rebuilt in the 1920s and given to Benito Mussolini, who was born in nearby Predappio and made it his summer residence.

A tricolour beacon was installed on the tower which, when the Duce was at the fortress, would light up and could be seen from the plain all the way to the sea. During the Italian Social Republic, the fortress also served as the venue for government meetings. After the war it remained abandoned for many years.

Today, following extensive restoration, the fortress has been reopened to the public with an indoor and outdoor visitor route: 23 panels tell the story of the place, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, without nostalgia, as a page of history to be understood. You can visit on your own or with the free app.

The panorama is spectacular: on one side the Rabbi valley with Predappio, on the other the plain stretching to the Adriatic. Combine your visit with Meldola, with its arcaded square and the Ponte dei Veneziani.