Museo della Rocca di Dozza
House museum in the Rocca Sforzesca of Dozza, with furnished rooms and a picture collection of the Malvezzi-Campeggi family, plus the contemporary art collections of the Muro Dipinto.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Rocca di Dozza, also known as the Rocca Sforzesca, overlooks the medieval village from the crest of the hill above the Sellustra valley, halfway between Bologna and Imola. The complex began as a medieval and Renaissance fortress, then became a Renaissance residence and finally an 18th-century residence. The Malvezzi-Campeggi family lived there from the 16th century until 1960.
Today the Rocca is a house museum run by the Fondazione Dozza Città d'Arte, with a visit route on three levels: the defensive parts, the rooms furnished with the family's furniture and historic picture collection, and the spaces that tell the story of the building's transformations. A dedicated route focuses on Caterina Sforza.
The contemporary art collections of the Biennale del Muro Dipinto are also housed in the rooms: on the second floor visitors see the Sala degli Strappi (hall of the detached murals), and on the third floor the Centro Studi e Documentazione del Muro Dipinto, with sketches and documents. The Rocca also hosts temporary exhibitions, workshops for children and the dragon Fyrstan, the protagonist of a story for younger visitors.
Highlights
- Furnished rooms and historic picture collection of the Malvezzi-Campeggi family
- Medieval fortress, Renaissance and 18th-century residence
- Sala degli Strappi with works from the Biennale del Muro Dipinto
- Study and Documentation Centre of the Muro Dipinto
- Guided route on Caterina Sforza
Permanent exhibitions
- Casa-museo: percorso di visita nella Rocca – Fortress, Renaissance and 18th-century residence with furnished rooms and the historic picture collection of the Malvezzi-Campeggi family.
- Collezioni del Muro Dipinto – Sala degli Strappi and Study and Documentation Centre with sketches and documents from the Biennale del Muro Dipinto.
- Operated by
- Fondazione Dozza Città d'Arte
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Students aged 18 and over, groups of more than 20 people, holders of a FAI, Touring Club Italiano or Amici dei Borghi membership card |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s; school groups pay €2 per child. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities; if the disability is 100%, the companion also enters free. |
| Students & apprentices | €6Reduced rate for students aged 18 and over. |
| Groups (21+ people) | €6 per personReduced rate for groups of more than 20 people, per person. |
Free admission also for residents of the municipality of Dozza, holders of the Card Cultura, tour guides and journalists with a press card. For the Biennale FantastikA (19 and 20 September 2026), times and prices may vary.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The museum offers workshops for children (for example “Il ritratto matto”, “Lo stemma della mia famiglia” and “Storie di draghi al castello”, for ages 4 and up) and the monthly series “Bimbi al Museo”.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Toscanella (bivio di Dozza)
From Imola railway station, walk to the bus station and take bus 101 towards Bologna as far as the Toscanella stop (Dozza junction). From there, bus 147 runs Monday to Saturday, by reservation only (051 290 299, at least 60 minutes in advance).
By car
Parking available · 100 m to the entrance
Parking area for cars, buses and motorhomes in Piazza Fontana, about 100 metres from the Rocca.
By car: take the Castel San Pietro Terme exit (from the north) or the Imola exit (from the south) of the A14 motorway, then follow the Via Emilia to the Dozza junction and Via Calanco. Dozza is 25 km from Bologna and 6 km from Imola.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
In-house bookshop with postcards, magnets, notebooks, tote bags and publications of the museum and the Biennale del Muro Dipinto.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Some spaces in the museum can be rented for conferences and lectures on request to the Presidency of the Fondazione Dozza Città d'Arte, and for civil weddings (formalities handled by the municipal registry office, 0542 672408).
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. No animals are admitted inside, not even in carriers. Guided tours in Italian are available by prior booking (at least 15 days in advance, by email): the Classico route, “La Rocca di Caterina”, the exhibition rooms and “Il Museo nel Museo”; €15 per person (€18 in English), €100 per class for schools, maximum 30 people per guide. |
