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COSTONZO TOWER HOUSE
Località Riola di Vergato
CALL
- In the late fourteenth century, in the Apennine area, most of the castles had been destroyed and by-laws prevented private individuals from building or owning others. But other events, like the fighting between factions and old noble families, gave rise to a new type of structure that combined residential and defence needs: the tower house. Close to the settlement of Montecavalloro, indicated on old maps as “Monte cava l’oro” or Mount Goldmine, although it is not certain whether this is just a play on words or a reference to a real ancient presence of this precious metal, there are two old hamlets that have kept their mediaeval charm intact: Casa Monzone and Casa Costonzo. The first is practically still intact and has seen very few changes over time. The second, mentioned in the Register of national monuments in the province of Bologna, is not only considered valuable for its fortifications but is also famous for its former owners: Patarono da Costonzo and his cousin Corsacio were considered “doctors”, a title that was quite amiss in the modern sense as their knowledge included a good dose of witchcraft. On the other hand, the ill had no choice but to trust in them. It is also said that it was actually Casa Costonzo that founded the first mediaeval medical school in Bologna's Apennine region. Between 1370 and 1371 there were only six doctors working in the area, and three of these were in Costonzo, while only thirty years later there was evidence of other doctors in nearby towns and villages, and it is thought that they probably all came from the school in Costonzo, which originated from the more famous Medical School in Salerno. Close to Riola in the direction of Grizzana Morandi, stands the Castle of Cesare Mattei (The Rocchetta – built in 1850) and the Church designed in 1966 by the great Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.