The impressive lateral towers are all that remains of the 15th century gate, built by the sons of the craftsman Giorgio Fiorentino, which replaced the former gate of the Piolo.

When it was still standing, a central arch joined the two towers and the nearby square had a rising bridge.

Appia Gate Towers
via Appia corner via Galeati

This building rises opposite the entrance of the cathedral. It was built in the 12th century and was enlarged during the 15th and 16th centuries. The changes that we admire today were due to the renovations works conducted by Cosimo Morelli in the second half of the 18th century.

The front of the building has two large entrances and windows symmetrically situated. A monumental staircase connects the courtyard to the first floor and is decorated with vast windows and dorian columns.

It hosts the Diocesan Archive, the Diocesan and the Carriage Museum that can be visited.

Bishop Palace
piazza Duomo 1

The Calderini family, who was at the service of the Riario Sforza family, commissioned Francesco Fuzzi to build a residence worthy of their social position.

The building clearly shows the Tuscany influence with the decorated sandstone facade and the ornamented twin-lancet windows facing the main road.

During the 16th century public acts were administrated and stipulated on the stone benches collocated on the front wall of this building. Untill the 2013 the building was the seat of the Courts of Law of Bologna.

Calderini Palace
via Cavour 84

This elegant building occupies almost the entire block of the first part of via Cavour west. It’s the work of Giuseppe Baccini and was enlarged in 1919-1920.
The facade is decorated with large medallions between the gables of the windows carrying inscriptions: the first six were dictated by the poet Carducci, the remaining by Luigi Paolini who was director there between 1885 and 1925.

Today it is the seat of the Banca Popolare Italiana in Imola.

Cassa di Risparmio Palace
via Cavour 53

It was built at the end of the 1930’s, in the place of the old fruit and vegetable market.

It is made up by a large gallery, designed by the roman architect Milani, and by a large red brick building created by Adriano Marabini from Imola.

This gallery connects via Emilia and Piazza Gramsci and also hosts some shops and occasionally cultural events.

The House of Fascio is dominated by a large square tower, which is vertically situated on the corner of the entrance. On each side of this tower are two sculptured columns, by Amleto Beghelli, representing various sports.

Central Gallery
via Emilia from 123 to 145

The building still presents itself as a closed construction typical of the 16th century even though it was renovated in the 18th century.

The facade towards via S. Pier Grisologo has particularly beautiful eaves, which are supported by wonderful sculptures of horse heads. Monumental chimneys decorate the ground floor and the large hall on first floor. The ceiling is decorated with frescoes of the late 17th century representing the “Ratto di Ganimede”. The frescoes which ornate the ceilings of the adjacent rooms are works of Angelo Gottarelli and Antonio Villa, two painters of Imola.

Today the building is a private property, seat of offices and used for parties and social events.

Codronchi – Marchi Palace
via San Pier Grisologo 38

This home was bought by the Conti della Bordella in 1478 and renovated in 1526 after damages caused by the numerous attacks by the enemy family Vaini. The building is typical Renaissance of the first period with its dressed stone facade.

The rooms on the ground floor still display remains of frescoes of wreaths and fruits together with the coat-of-arms of Caterina Sforza: a large green snake of the Visconti family and the golden rose of the Riario family.

In 1700 it became the property of the Mazzolani family and later of the Gandolfi family who donated it in 1963 to the Municipality of Imola.

Dei Conti della Bordella then Gandolfi House
via Dei Mille 26

This complex is one of the most important artistic and historical sites of Imola. The Dominican convent was built in the 13th century; two cloisters were added in the 15th century and the complex was named after the adjoining Church of Santi Nicolò and Domenico.

It was the home of the Dominican friars until 1797, whenl it was transformed into barracks by the French troops. Luckily all these changes did not drastically alter the structure and skillful renovations permitted the opening of the second cloister, in 1988, as the Pinacoteca Comunale (the Art Gallery).

Convent of Saints Nicolò and Domenico
via Sacchi 4

At the beginning of the 18th century this building belonged to the counts Dal Pero Bertini, as can be seen from the insignia in the hall on the noble floor, but was then passed on to the Dal Monte Casoni family.

From the main entrance a large corridor leads into a spacious courtyard which once hosted the stables and the garages. On the left of the vestibule you enter an apartment which is decorated with frescoes by Alessandro Della Nave. On the other side an elegant staircase – work of Domenico Morelli – decorated with mythological statues, leads to the noble floor. here the rooms have been embellished with 18th century country-side paintings by Antonio Villa.

Today the building hosts offices and private homes.

Dal Monte Casoni Palace
via Emilia 34

It was built in 1750 under Pope Benedetto XIV on the site where the strategic passage over the Santerno River was possible. This tower offered shelter to the tax collectors while collecting the tolls of those who wanted to cross the river.

It resembles a small two-storey fortress with four corner towers. The facade has a marble plaque commemorating the construction and a niche in the shape of a bell which hosted a terracotta plaque which today is preserved in the Pinacoteca Comunale.

The building cannot be visited on the inside.

Daziaria or Gabella Tower
entrance on via Pisacane

This building was erected in the second half of the 15th century by the Volpe family and in 1474 Taddeo della Volpe, the famous Venetian Captain of the Army, was born there.

Later it became the seat of Pawnbrokers from 1518 to 1820. The various arches covering the facade clearly show how it once was a “fortified residence”.

It is a private property and cannot be visited inside.

Della Volpe Palace
via Don Bughetti 1

This building was commissioned by Girolamo Riaro in order to host his guests, and was completed by Giorgio Fiorentino in 1484.

It is a notable building, decorated by numerous arches and frames in terracotta. The facade on Via Orsini still shows signs of the back entrance for the horses and carriages, leading to the courtyard where once were the stables. The overhead balcony with its columns and capitals in decorated sandstone, marks the floor which was designed for the noble residence. The main facade overlooking Via Emilia still displays the decorated arches in terracotta which once belonged to the original shops that occupied these premises. At the end of Caterina Sforza’s reign, the building was bought by Della Volpe Family.

Today the building hosts offices and private homes.

Della Volpe Palace – Former El Cappello Hotel
via Emilia 140

The original building was founded by Cardinal Mastai Ferretti (who was to become Pope Pius IX) and entrusted to the Nuns of Buon Pastore.

The impressive building as we know it today – en entire block surrounded by a high brick wall and hosting a huge courtyard – was inaugurated later on, in 1895. It then undewent severe damages during the Second War World Until 1985 it always housed colleges and schools.

It is now private property and the court – recently named after Gilles Villeneuve – is occasionaly used for cultural events.

Former Buon Pastore Convent
via Manin 1
tel. 0542.23014

This is one of the most important historical sites of Imola. Built between 1360 and 1380 by the Franciscan friars, it was similar in structure to the Basilica di Assisi. It consisted in fact of a superior church and of an inferior one with just one nave and a large adjoining cloister.

The inferior church has recently been renovated and is now used for conventions and exhibitions. During the works fragments of suggestive frescos were discovered, especially in the apsidal area, representing the “Madonna del Soccorso” and Christ and the Saints.

The large superior church, whose apsidal area is well seen from the outside, was closed during the Napoleonic period and turned into a theatre in 1812 under the supervision of the architect Giuseppe Magistretti, and still today is the theatre of Imola.

The convent was gradually transformed into a public library, since it already contained a precious collection of books. The building was transformed through various works of expansion and reconstruction in the mid 17th century, especially following the designs of the architect Cosimo Morelli: the main staircase was built, and the fascinating Aula Magna was frescoed by Alessandro Della Nave and Antonio Villa.

The building hosts the Public Library and the Theatre.

Former St. Francis Monastery
via Emilia 80 entrance of the public Library (BIM – Public Library)
via Verdi 1/3 entrance of the public Theatre (Ebe Stignani municipal Theatre)

This building was the home of the Conti Ginnasi-Poggiolini, as it is revealed by the coat-of-arms on the facades overlooking via Cavour and via Appia.

The building is constructed around two inner courtyards, one – which was meant for the servants and for the stables (visible from via Cavour number 65) – and the main one for the guests, which contains a fountain with a statue of Neptune. The palace underwent renovation works in the 18th century; to that period date the water paintings by Alessandro Della Nave and Antonio Villa, two prominent painters who decorated many noble homes of that time.

Today the building hosts offices and private homes.

Ginnasi Palace
via Appia 39