The Castle of the Captain of the Square, also known as Governor’s Castle, is one of the most significant buildings in the fortified citadel of Terra del Sole. Built for military and administrative purposes, the castle stands majestically to guard the Porta Romana, the entrance facing Forli, and is a perfect example of 16th-century defensive architecture. The angled, star-shaped structure was designed to resist cannon fire, thanks to the presence of advanced bodies, drawbridge, portcullis and machicolations.
The castle originally included various functional rooms for military life: the Captain’s quarters, the Guard’s rooms, a storehouse for saltpeter, cannonballs and pusher mounts, as well as a crossing gallery and a gallery for sentry patrols. After its disarmament in 1772, the castle was used as the Customs Officer’s quarters, assuming civil and customs functions.
Today, the Castle of the Captain is home to important cultural entities: it houses the Municipal Historical Archives, which preserves more than 2,000 files of documents, including precious court documents dating back to the 15th century, and is an indispensable source for scholars of the history of the Tuscan Romagnola Province. It also houses the “G. Rossini” School of Music, the historical company of Crossbowmen of Terra del Sole, the choral group and the “Borgo Romano” association.
Beautifully preserved, the castle is now publicly owned and continues to be a living and active reference point for the local community and historical researchers from all over Europe.