Meldola

Meldola
—  Comune  —
Comune di Meldola
Coat of arms
Meldola Location of Meldola in Italy
Coordinates: 44°08′N 12°03′E
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province	Forlì-Cesena (FC)
Frazioni	San Colombano, Ricò-Gualdo, Teodorano, Piandispino-Valdinoce, Vitignano
Government
• Mayor	Gianluca Zattini
Area
• Total	78 km2 (30.1 sq mi)
Elevation	58 m (190 ft)
Population (1 January 2009)
• Total	10,142
• Density	130/km2 (336.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Meldolesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	47014
Dialing code	0543
Patron saint	St. Nicholas, Beata Vergine del Popolo
Saint day	December 6
Website	Official website

Meldola is a town and comune near Forlì, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

History

The area of Meldola was inhabited since very ancient times. The Romans built here a large aqueduct (still existing under the ground) which served the military port of Classis. To the 5th-6th century belongs a large patrician villa which is now under the historical centre.

In the Middle Ages a castle was present, the name Meldola first attested around the year 1000. The castle was a possession of the Montefeltro, Ordelaffi, Malatesta, the Borghese Aldobrandini and the Doria Pamphilj. It gained the status of city in 1862, soon after the unification of Italy.

Main sights

• Rocca (castle)
• Castle of Teodorano, outside the city. Of the originary fortified burgh, destroyed by Cesare Borgia, a tower and part of the walls remain.
• Church of the Madonna del Sasso (1523). It is now home to the Ecology Museum.
• Churches of San Cosimo and San Nicolò.
• Ponte dei Veneziani (Venetians' Bridge), a 5-archs bridge dating from the early 16th-century.
• Scardavilla Wood preserved area
• Rocca delle Caminate fortress, which was a summer residence of Benito Mussolini

Economy

In the late 19th century and in the first years of 20th century, Meldola was well known for its production of silk. The main activities include agriculture and the manufacture of furniture. A recently built oncology hospital provides research into cancer and care for cancer patients.

Notable people

The following notable persons were born in Meldola: the philosopher and theologian Bartolomeo Mastri; the patriot Felice Orsini; the painter Maria Giuditta Versari.

References

• Lombardi, Fabio (2000). Storia di Meldola. Cesena: Il ponte vecchio. ISBN 8883121066.