ENGLISH
We are in front of a combustion chamber where the cannons defending the Stronghold are positioned. Look: the large grass snake and the rose, crest of Girolamo Riario and his wife Caterina Sforza, lords of the city since 1481.
For Imola the Signoria (authority) of Girolamo and Caterina brought important changes: it was Girolamo who wanted a Renaissance square in which to build a Palazzo delle Magistrature, a palazzo Riario and also a big hotel, the hotel El Cappello, to welcome his important guests.
Thanks to the example of Girolamo, other families, such as the Calderini and Macchirelli, also built new palaces.
Imola became a Renaissance city and the Stronghold transformed into what you see today, with four round towers and the little palace of the rescue yard which refines its appearance.
This is the Stronghold as I drew it: it is still the same, as you can see.
From the death of Girolamo in 1488, who was killed by a group of conspirators, it was left to Caterina alone to hold the fortunes of the cities of Imola and Forlì. A strong and combative woman, who read the classics, could use a sword, rode a horse like a soldier, knew the virtues and uses of plants, and how to use alembic stills to create unguents, potions, balsams, medicinal drinks to heal and make women more beautiful.