Meldola

• Name — Meldola • Official Name — Comune di Meldola • Region — Emilia-Romagna • Province — Forlì-Cesena (FC) • Frazioni — San Colombano, Ricò-Gualdo, Teodorano, Piandispino-Valdinoce, Vitignano • Mayor — Roberto Cavallucci • Area Total Km2 — 78 • Population Total — 10142 • Population As Of — 1 January 2009 • Population Demonym — Meldolesi • Elevation M — 58 • Saint — St. Nicholas, Beata Vergine del Popolo • Day — December 6 • Postal Code — 47014 • Area Code — 0543

The area of Meldola has been inhabited since very ancient times. The Romans built here a large aqueduct (still existing under the ground) which served the military port of Classis. To the 5th-6th century belongs a large patrician villa which is now under the historical centre. In the Middle Ages, a castle was present, the name Meldola was first attested around the year 1000. The castle was a possession of the Montefeltro, Ordelaffi, Malatesta, the Borghese Aldobrandini and the Doria Pamphilj. It gained the status of city in 1862, soon after the unification of Italy.

• Illustration — Rocca in Mendola • Rocca (castle) • Castle of Teodorano, outside the city. Of the originary fortified burgh, destroyed by Cesare Borgia, a tower and part of the walls remain. • Church of the Madonna del Sasso (1523). It is now home to the Ecology Museum. • Churches of San Cosimo and San Nicolò. • Ponte dei Veneziani (Venetians' Bridge), a 5-arch bridge dating from the early 16th-century. • Scardavilla Wood preserved area • Rocca delle Caminate fortress, which was a summer residence of Benito Mussolini

• Mayor — Term start — Term end — Party • Corrado Ghetti — 1993 — 2004 — Democrats of the Left • Loris Venturi — 2004 — 2009 — Democrats of the Left/Democratic Party • Gian Luca Zattini — 2009 — 2019 — Lega Nord • Roberto Cavallucci — 2019 — Incumbent — Independent (centre-left)

In the late 19th century and in the first years of 20th century, Meldola was well known for its production of silk. The main activities include agriculture and the manufacture of furniture. A recently built oncology hospital provides research into cancer and care for cancer patients.

The following notable persons were born in Meldola: the philosopher and theologian Bartholomew Mastrius; the patriot Felice Orsini; the painter Maria Giuditta Versari. Football coach Alberto Zaccheroni was also born in Meldola. • Annarita Balzani, Italian sprinter • Enrico Lombardi, painter and writer • Fabio Lombardi, ethnomusicologist and organologist • Luigi Michelacci, painter • Gian Luca Zattini, politician