Guido Guerra’ Historical Hall

The permanent exhibition of bladed weapons from the ancient to the modern age exhibits numerous examples of original handmade and unmanufactured weapons ranging in time from the Middle Ages to the present day. At one time these artefacts had a very important practical use: war, tournaments, duels, the administration of justice, ceremonies or the display of power. Today they have lost their practical importance, but they are precious witnesses to the past, to the skill of their makers: blacksmiths, swordsmen, jewellers and gunsmiths.

The sword, in particular, because of its symbolic value, has survived in its sabre variant as a sign of military status, becoming an indispensable decorative accessory of the uniform. The exhibition winds its way through swords, daggers, two-handed swords and pole-arms, recounting their origin, evolution and technique of use without neglecting the symbolic, artistic and decorative aspect well represented, among other things, by artists of every era.

Of particular importance in the exhibition is the collection of daggers of the type “Cinquedea’, civil and usually non-war weapons, used from the 15th to the 16th century to emphasise the power and prestige of their owner. True ‘Fuoriserie’.

The scientific project, exhibition design and guided tours are curated by the ‘Armorum Ars’ cultural association, which has moved its headquarters to Dovadola since 2020 to better care for and manage the ‘Guido GUERRA’ municipal historical hall.
Since 2015, the association has been dealing with studies, ancient weapons, restoration, historical dissemination and education.

It organises events such as conferences and themed exhibitions on everything related to the world of antique weapons.

The ‘Guido Guerra’ Historical Room, owned by the municipality, is housed inside the Oratory of Saints Anthony and Gennaro in Via Tartagni Marvelli no. 1/B within the ancient castle walls of Dovadola.

The church is interesting from an architectural point of view as it consists entirely of three naves, the two side naves of which are raised above the central one and placed on the same level as the main altar.

It houses two valuable paintings by the Forlì painter Giacomo ZAMPA, who lived between the 18th and 19th centuries:
– The canvas of Saints Francis Xavier, Gennaro, Francis and Anthony
– The canvas of Saints Sebastian, Nicholas of Tolentino, Lawrence, Elizabeth of Hungary, Teresa of Avila and Vincent FERRERI.

The Oratory was built as the Church of the Castle of Dovadola and is located on the road leading to the Conti GUIDI fortress.

Following its acquisition by the TARTAGNI MARVELLI family in 1600, the building was renovated in the Baroque style of the time, decorating it with paintings commissioned by the owners from the painter from Forlì.