Castel Guelfo Fortress: Campanazzo

The rocca, or fortress, was the town’s only gateway and faced Bologna.

Over time, it has undergone numerous changes. In 1300 it was a solid, squared-off structure of decidedly military character. In 1500, with the advent of longrange firearms, it underwent substantial modifications: two centuries later, the castle keep was still a formidable bastion. Works in the late 18th century and the and 19th century transformed the building into an elegant city gate with no side door or drawbridge. Of considerable historical interest are the four round-based corner towers known as the Torrioni and the largely intact connecting walls that surrounded the old castle. Some five metres high and up to 2.5 metres thick, the walls and the outer moat formed Castel Guelfo’s main defensive perimeter. In the early 1900s the clock was embedded in the rocca.

Today the rocca is publicly owned and called the Campanazzo.

FUN FACT

In 1883 a section of wall was demolished along the eastern main road to open up the Porta Agnese, built in honour of Agnese T’Serclaes-Hallberg, wife of Prince Cesare Hercolani. As a young woman, she did much to improve the living standards of many villagers of the time. On her Saint’s day, 21st January, the borgo used to organise a festival with a gala dinner and dancing in the main hall of the palazzo.

In the second half of the 20th century, Sant’Agnese became the patron saint of Castel Guelfo.