Rocca Isolani

The Rocca Isolani is a medieval fortress in the small town of Minerbio, roughly 20 kilometres northeast of Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region. Originally built in the early 14th century, it was burned to the ground by the notorious condottiere Niccolò Piccinino — a fate shared by many northern Italian strongholds caught in the mercenary wars of that era. Rebuilt in 1438, the structure took on considerably larger, fortress-like proportions. The Isolani family, granted lordship over Minerbio by the Visconti of Milan in 1401, lent the castle its lasting name. Designated an Italian national monument, the Rocca today is most accessible to visitors through its surrounding park grounds.