| Dovadola | ||
_02.jpg/250px-Rocca_dei_Conti_Guidi_(Dovadola)_02.jpg) | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Emilia Romagna | |
| Territory | Romagna Apennines | |
| Altitude | 140 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 38.97 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 1.575 (2019) | |
| Name inhabitants | Dovadolesi | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0543 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 47013 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | Sant'Andrea Apostolo (November 30) | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Dovadola is a center ofEmilia Romagna.
To know
Geographical notes
On the first findings of theRomagna Apennines, in the valley of the river Montone, is 26 km from Galeata, 20 from Forlì, 9 from Rocca San Casciano, 8 from Castrocaro Terme, 10 from Land of the Sun. It is one of the municipalities of the Tuscan Romagna, that is that area of Romagna that was part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and, after the Unification, of the province of Florence until 1923, when it was aggregated to the province of Forlì and Emilia-Romagna.
Background
The town probably originates from the existence of two fords of the Montone river not far from each other. The town was built on a cliff overlooking the river. In the valley where Dovadola rises, human presence has been found since prehistoric times. The existence of an inhabited center in Roman times is evidenced by archeology (findings of Roman tombs and beaten coins).
It was the Lombards, between the 7th and 8th centuries, who repopulated the town after the terrible Gothic War. Between the 8th and 9th centuries the archbishop of Ravenna, who dominated the whole area from Tuscany to the Po, had the first fortress built on the rocky outcrop that dominates the town. In the 13th century Marcovaldo (Markward) of the Guidi counts became count of Dovadola, son of Guido Guerra III, progenitor of the family by appointment of Emperor Henry IV. By order of Marcovaldo the castle was enlarged: new walls, ramparts and stately palace.
In 1255, Count Ruggero, Marcovaldo's son and successor, and the Municipality of Dovadola, entrusted themselves to the Municipality of Forlì with a special deed of partnership. In 1405 the Guidi ceded the fiefdom of Dovadola to the Republic of Florence, which over time expanded its domains in Romagna (Tuscan Romagna). Dovadola followed the events of Florence until the annexation to the Kingdom of Sardinia (March 1860).
With the foundation of the Kingdom of Italy it was assigned to the Province of Florence.Only in 1923 Dovadola, together with most of the municipalities of the Tuscan Romagna, was merged with the Province of Forlì.
How to orient yourself
Dovadola: full screen map.How to get
By car
- From the north: A14 Adriatica motorway direction Ancona, exit at Faenza, continue in the direction of Faenza, cross the hamlet of Santa Lucia delle Spianate, Casone, take the SS 67 in the direction of Dovadola.
- From the south: A14 Adriatica motorway direction Bologna, exit at the toll booth of Forlì, continue towards Forlì, SS 67, go through Forlì, Predappio and continue on the SP 47 in the direction of Dovadola.
- From Forlì take the SP 3 in the direction of Predappio, continue on the SP 47 in the direction of Dovadola (SP 104).
- From Ravenna take the SS 16 Adriatica, continue on the SS 67 in the direction of Forlì, go through Forlì, Predappio, continue on the SP 47 in the direction of Dovadola (SP 104).
On the train
- Forlì railway station (about 36 km away), Bologna - Rimini - Ancona - Bari - Lecce line. From Forlì extra-urban bus service "ATR" (Line 127 Muraglione - S.Benedetto - Portico - Rocca S.Casciano - Forlì).
By bus
- Autolinee ATR (Romagnoli Transport Company)[1], is the main public transport company operating in the Province of Forlì-Cesena.
- From Rome Autolinee Sulga[2]
How to get around
What see
- 1 Church of Sant'Andrea, Via Benedetta Bianchi Porro, 6, ☎ 39 0543 934676. It stands on a hill beyond the Montone river. Founded by the Cluniac monks before the year 1000, the first mention dates back to the year 1116. In the 15th century the church was restored taking on the aspect, in the Tuscan Renaissance style, which it still retains today. In the building you can admire interesting frescoes from the 16th century and valuable 16th century paintings from the Romagna and Bolognese schools. The church preserves the remains of the venerable Dovadolese Benedetta Bianchi Porro and is a destination for pilgrimages.
- 2 Hermitage of Montepaolo. Anthony of Padua in the spring of 1221 met St. Francis in Assisi, where he was noted for his skills as a preacher and sent to a hermitage in Montepaolo, where a small community of friars already resided. For study and personal prayer, Antonio used a natural cave that was present on the wooded hill of the hermitage. In 1222, after a surprising and unexpected sermon he gave out of obedience to the bishop, in Forlì, and which was his first public sermon, Antonio was called to carry out the full-time service of preacher and had to leave Montepaolo.
- He stayed there a second time for a short time in 1228 when, having become Provincial of the Order, he had to make the canonical visit to all the communities of his province.
- Over the years the Franciscan friars abandoned the hermitage, and access to the cave itself in the seventeenth century was prevented by a landslide. In 1629 the noble Giacomo Paganelli of Castrocaro had a chapel built on the hill of Montepaolo in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua, as an ex voto. In 1790 the chapel was enlarged, a rectory was built next to it while the grotto was made accessible again; but only in 1898 the friars returned to live in the ancient hermitage. On 15 August 1905 the cave, subject to further restoration works, was blessed, while on 29 June 1908 the Bishop of Forlì Raimondo Jaffei, administrator of the Diocese of Modigliana, laid the first stone of the new Sanctuary, which was consecrated on 7 September 1913, by the bishop of Modigliana Luigi Capotosti.
- In 1932 the construction of the bell tower attached to the church, neo-Gothic, was completed.
- In the mid-nineties, Father Ernesto Caroli arrived as rector, who restored the Sanctuary and revived the spiritual life there, remaining in office until 2003.
- After the departure of the Franciscan community of the Friars Minor, the hermitage is now inhabited by the Poor Clares, previously residing in the Monastery of Santa Chiara in Faenza.
- Inside the church there is a relic of the saint, recently taken from the body kept in the Basilica of Sant'Antonio di Padova. Near the sanctuary, following the "path of hope", you reach the small chapel ("cave"), which recalls the place where the Saint according to tradition gathered in prayer. The "avenue of mosaics" instead shows the history of the sanctuary.
- The Way of St. Anthony and Assisi
- The hermitage of Montepaolo is the crossing point of the Way of St. Anthony which starts from Camposampiero (Pd) and the Basilica del Santo (Pd) and goes to the Franciscan sanctuary of La Verna. The pilgrimage also starts from the hermitage Way of Assisi.
- 3 Urban walls. In the northern part of the historic center, in the block between Via Garibaldi and Ranieri Biscia to the south and Carbonaie to the north, you can see imposing remains of the fourteenth-fifteenth-century walls including three large circular towers (nowadays they are partially incorporated into residential houses).
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- 4 Rocca. The fortress was built in an area that since ancient times played a role of primary importance in the control of the Apennine passes. Probably already the seat of a castrum Roman, the current fortress stands near Lombard bulwarks that guarded the areas close to the Byzantine territories. The first evidence of the fortress dates back to 1021 although the current building must be traced back to the thirteenth century. The fortress stands on a spur of pudding rock which dominates the town center. Although the neglect of the last centuries has damaged it in numerous points, it remains, of all the fortifications that belonged to the Guidi counts, the one in the best state of conservation: it is intact as regards some structures such as curtains, bastions and the keep, but the remaining structures are in a serious state of neglect.
- The fortress consists of three floors or better of three blocks superimposed and linked by forced passages that connect the main entrance to the top of the keep. The entrance was equipped with a drawbridge of which the lanes of the lifting beams are still visible; through a bridge it leads into the internal courtyard surrounded by the keep and defensive curtains.
- The keep is built on 5 floors, two of which are underground.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- 1 Osteria dei Conti, Victory Square, 1, ☎ 39 366 4606712.
- 2 Antica Osteria, Cesare Battisti Square.
- 3 Da Gino Pizzeria Restaurant Bar, Viale G. Zauli da Montepolo, 25, ☎ 39 0543 934753.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Romagna B&B Garibaldi, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 22, ☎ 39 0543 1995656.
Safety
- 1 Due Ponti Pharmacy, Victory Square, 2, ☎ 39 0543 934641.
- 2 Forest Rangers, Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, 6, ☎ 39 0543 933130.
How to keep in touch
Post office
- 3 Italian post, Victory Square, 4, ☎ 390543933193.
Around
- Forlì - The abbey of San Mercuriale, the Cathedral, the museum complex of San Domenico characterize the historic center of this ancient city which was the Forum Livii Roman.
- Rocca San Casciano
- Land of the Sun
- Castrocaro Terme
Useful information
- 4 Pro Loco dovadolese, Via del Canale, 13, ☎ 39 0543 933200.
