Night of Fortresses in Cotignola

A night to rediscover fortified heritage

The Night of Fortresses makes its first stop in Cotignola, in the Province of Ravenna, in the heart of the Bassa Romagna. The Municipality of Cotignola thus joins an international initiative dedicated to the enhancement of fortified heritage and the history of territories, supported by the European project FORTIC – Interreg Italy-Croatia, which involves dozens of sites including fortresses, castles, towers, and walled cities in various countries.

The Torre d'Acuto, symbol of the city

The heart of the evening is the Torre d'Acuto, Cotignola's identity monument. The tower is named after Giovanni Acuto (the Englishman John Hawkwood), a famous condottiero who was granted the fief of Cotignola in the 14th century and built his fortress there. Destroyed during the bombings of 1944 and rebuilt in 1972, the tower still houses the civic bell, nicknamed by the people of Cotignola as "E' Campanòn". An evening designed to bring the community and visitors together unfolds around this place rich in memory.

The evening's program

The event opens with a free bike ride starting from the tower's garden, a convivial occasion to cycle through the town before dusk. Upon arrival, an aperitif-dinner organized by Cotignola Invita is scheduled: participants in the bike ride will receive a discount voucher valid for their first food or drink purchase.

The cultural part features a talk titled "The era of the great condottieri in Cotignola", which recounts the city's role during the condottieri period and its connection with Giovanni Acuto. The evening continues with music, featuring a DJ set that lasts until late, in an atmosphere that combines historical dissemination, gastronomy, and community celebration.

A European event on a local scale

The Night of Fortresses was born within a broader European project of sustainable cultural tourism, which each year promotes dozens of fortified sites in numerous countries with hundreds of scattered events. In Cotignola, the initiative takes on an intimate and participatory character, capable of telling the grand history of the condottieri through a local monument and involving residents and tourists in a free outdoor evening.

Why participate

• Discover the Torre d'Acuto and the history of the condottieri in the Bassa Romagna.
• Experience a free evening with a bike ride, aperitif-dinner, and music.
• Be part of an international initiative supported by the FORTIC – Interreg Italy-Croatia project.
• Experience Cotignola and Emilia-Romagna in an unusual way, amidst heritage, community, and conviviality.