Castle of the 11th and 12th centuries, founded as a defensive outpost of the Abbey of Sant’Ellero. The ruins of the walls, a semicircular keep, the gates (north and south) and the square keep tower remain.
The castle, with its imposing ruins, dominates the gentle plain of the Roman town of Mevaniola.
Founded by the abbots of S. Ellero as a southern defensive outpost of the abbey territories, it was given as a dowry in 1209 by Emperor Otto IV to Gualdrada, who married Guido il Vecchio, progenitor of the Guidi family of Modigliana. The strategic position of the castle, which closed the “strada magistra” that led from Romagna to Tuscany, made it a kind of customs fort. Because of this trade, abbots, feudal lords, condottieri, the city of Florence and the Holy See itself competed for possession of the castle.
Impressive ruins of the fortress remain on the hill above the present town: the wall with defensive salients; access gates (north and south gates); the semicircular keep, inside which is the cistern for collecting water; and the keep tower, with a square base (5 meters on each side) and about 10 meters high.
Remarkable is a small entrance under the keep, possibly access to the dungeon (now blocked).
Opening hours: Always, as it is in a state of ruins.
Admission fee: Free entrance.
How to get there: Galeata is about 34 km from Forlì, along the SP no. 4 del Bidente (direction Meldola-S. Sofia). The village of Pianetto is about 2 km from Galeata (direction S. Sofia). The ruins of the castle can be reached on foot, following the path that starts in front of the church of S. Maria dei Miracoli.
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