Dozza
Discovering Dozza: Physical Geography
Hi everyone, today I will talk about Dozza, a municipality located in the historical region of Romagna, in the metropolitan city of Bologna in Emilia-Romagna. Dozza has a population of 6,559 inhabitants and is composed of two main villages: the municipal capital Dozza and the hamlet of Toscanella. The municipality is located on the hills southwest of Imola and is only 6 km away from it. If you travel on the Emilia State Road towards Rimini, Dozza is the first municipality of historical Romagna. The western border of Romagna with Emilia is delimited by the Sillaro river, which flows through the municipality's territory. The Toscanella hamlet, located on the Via Emilia east of the Sillaro river, represents the entrance to the historical-geographical region of Romagna for those coming from Bologna. The nearest center to the west is Castel San Pietro Terme, 8 km away.
The Origin of the Name and Coat of Arms of Dozza
The toponym Dozza derives from medieval Latin "ducia", which means "conduit" or canal that carries water. In medieval documents, the toponyms "Ducia" and "Dutia" alternately appear. The name may also refer to an ancient aqueduct capable of storing water from Mount del Re in a cistern to cope with periods of drought. The municipal coat of arms features a Rampant Griffin in the foreground, a heraldic animal that quenches its thirst with water flowing from a conduit.
The History of Dozza
The Dozza territory was inhabited in Celtic times and subsequently also in Roman times. It was hit by invasions of barbarian populations, such as the Lombards. In the mid-6th century, Dozza was included in the territories of the Exarchate of Italy, i.e., the Byzantine territories of Italy, finding itself on the border with the Lombard possessions. With the end of the Exarchate in the mid-8th century, the Carolingians took possession of the former Byzantine possessions. They donated to the Imola Church the possession of the hill on which the settlement was erected. Around 1150, Dozza became a free municipality. Between 1151 and 1182, the chapter of the San Cassiano cathedral resided in Dozza because of the destruction of "Castrum Sancti Cassiani," then an episcopal seat, by the Imola people. In 1412, Dozza became a fief of the Imola family Alidosi, which shortly thereafter ceded the village to the Riario family.
Alternating events have affected the dominion of the fortress and the village, passed several times from one powerful Bolognese and Imola family to another.
Dozza was liberated from the German invasion on April 21, 1945.
Conclusions on the Municipality of Dozza
Dozza is an interesting Italian municipality to discover, both for its history and for the beauty of its landscape. It is located near Imola and the Emilia State Road, and is an excellent starting point for visiting historical Romagna. The surrounding nature is fantastic, in particular, the Sillaro river and the hilly area are beautiful. The history of Dozza is very particular, as well as the origin of its name and the municipal coat of arms. If you visit Emilia-Romagna, we suggest considering a walk to Dozza, you won't regret it!
