Dozza Castle

Dozza Castle crowns a hilltop above the walled medieval village of Dozza in Emilia-Romagna, and is recognized as an Italian national monument. The fortress bears the Sforza name from Caterina Sforza, the formidable Countess of Forlì who used it as a stronghold in the late 15th century — a ruler so notorious that Machiavelli cited her as a model of political resilience. Inside, the castle now houses the Museo Regionale del Vino, Emilia-Romagna's regional wine museum, with cellar rooms stocked with local vintages for tasting. The hilltop position of the keep offers sweeping views over the surrounding vineyard landscape, and the village below is known for its biennial open-air mural festival, which turns every facade in the alleyways into a canvas.