Caminate FORTRESS

The fortress rises on a ridge. It is 300mt. above sea level and in between Rabbi and Bidente Rivers. It is located in a strategic position; the castle might be constructed between the X and the XI century. It was destroyed at least three times and then was totally rebuilt between 1924 and 1927

Address: Strada Provinciale 126, 47014 Meldola (FC), Italia
Telephone number: +39.0543.921738
Fax: +39.0543.923417
Sito WEB: www.roccadellecaminate.com

Opening time

Guided tours of the park are organised for school groups in the perspective of environmental education projects. Service provided only on previous booking of groups and school groups.


Open on saturday and sunday from 10am to 7pm.


For further information call Ufficio Relazioni col Pubblico of Meldola 0543-927138.

Analytical text

The fortress rises on a ridge. It is 300mt. above sea level and in between Rabbi and Bidente Rivers. It is located in a strategic position; it dominates the below valleys. It might have been a Roman sighting tower. The castle might be built between the X and the XI century. In 900 Guido delle Caminate lived there and in 997 the Fortress was the residence and castle of the Belmonte's from Rimini. It belonged to this family until 1469. The castle was destroyed at least three times: in 1212, in 1236 by Faenza army and in 1469 by Pino Ordelaffi who preserved only the main tower of the fortress. It was then totally knocked down by the 1870 earthquake. When the Fascist Provincial Federation bought the fortress it was in ruins. It was totally rebuilt between 1924 and 1927 following the historic false theory; the architects that projected the restore of the fortress were L. Corsini and S. Baccarini.
In 1927 the fortress was given to Benito Mussolini as a present. He turned it into his summerhouse. On the top of the tower he fixed a light (8000-candle bulb) that projected green red and white pencil of light visible within a radius of 60Km. and marking the presence of Mussolini in Romagna.
The members of the Italian Royal Family, political leaders and ambassadors were hosted there. In 1943 the Fortress was the seat of the first Council of Ministers of the Italian social Republic.

How to get there

Rocca dell Caminate is 4Km. far from Predappio. It is reachable driving along Strada Provinciale n° 126. Turn into Via Mazzini (it is in the centre of Predappio) towards Meldola.