Monuments to visit Emilia-Romagna

Set in a group of buildings built between the 11th and 15th centuries, the majestic town hall's lounges are worth a look for the frescoes and paintings that decorate them. Don't miss, in one of the rooms, the Secchia Rapita (the removed bucket), a testimony to the old antagonism between Modena and Bologna: wishing to bring the humiliation of the Bolognese to a climax, the soldiers of Modena succeeded in 1325 in entering the city and stealing a bucket, a sign that the Bolognese were not even capable of protecting the most humble object!

This palace dating back to the th century was restored to the Renaissance. The ground floor with the arcades is crossed by two lanes which intersect under a big vault. Its Renaissance facade is now home to the tourist office.

Huge market, which became very popular because we do business in gold.

Built in 1245, its strategic position between Bologna and Romagna made it the focus of armed conflicts. But the fortress owes its present appearance to Caterina Sforza who, from 1480 onwards, reinforced the military defences of the territory around Imola; the two massive round corner towers with machicolations date from this period. During the visit, dungeons, dungeons, and other tricks to deceive the enemy are revealed. Exceptional view from the top of the tower. On the top floor, the pinacoteca gathers sketches of the murals of the biennial Muro dipinto.

It was built between 1437 and 1446 at the behest of Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, who would have designed the plans and benefited from the advice of the great Florentine architect Brunelleschi. This imposing fortress, the seat of a garrison, also housed the court of Sigismondo and symbolized his supremacy over the city. The castle has undergone major changes during its history and only the central part remains today. If it is not visited, it regularly hosts exhibitions and various events.

Ferrara is divided into two parts by a west-east axis formed by viale Cavour and corso Giovecca. To the south, the historic centre, with the cathedral and medieval alleys. To the north is a new district commonly known as the Addizione Erculea since it was built ex novo at the end of the 15th century at the request of Hercules I d'Este. The project was not a simple extension of the urban fabric, but a well thought-out urban planning project. The old walls on the north side were demolished and the architect Biaggio Rossetti created a new Renaissance quarter around two axes (corso Ercole I d'Este and the corsi Porta Po, Biagio Rossetti and Porta di Mare). At the intersection of the two axes, the Quadrivio degli Angeli with its beautiful palaces, among which the Palazzo dei Diamanti. This project was also a response to another idea. Traced within a square representing the horoscope of yesteryear, the two avenues corresponded to the equinoxes and the Diamond Palace to the position of the sun. In this Addizione, everything has been thought out down to the last detail in a scenographic way, taking into account the ancient part of the city. The majestic palaces follow one another, the wide avenues are a pleasant stroll and at the same time offer beautiful views, especially of the Castello Estense, which, with the addition of this new district, is at the centre of the urban fabric. At the time, this project was not only innovative, but brilliant, hence the title Ferrara acquired as the first modern city in Europe.

The impressive Rocca di Vignola stands on the headland of the Panaro River. Founded by the abbots of Nonantola in the 9th century, it then passed from hand to hand, starting with the bishops of Modena. It was in the 13th century that it became an important stronghold when many disputes existed between the families of Bologna and Modena. The Estensi of Ferrara put an end to these quarrels in the 15th century, when it underwent numerous alterations to be transformed into a stately residence. In the 16th century it became the property of the Boncompagni family who lived there until the middle of the 20th century. The main political and social bodies of the town were developed here: town hall, library... It is now managed by the Vignola Foundation, which is in charge of the delicate work of restoring the magnificent frescoes that decorate most of the walls of the fortress. The latter, a still little-known masterpiece, represents a spectacle worthy of the greatest medieval stages. Unique in their genre, they combine art and military architecture. From the inner courtyard, which can be reached by a drawbridge, you can visit the underground passages, the rooms decorated with paintings, and walk along the parapet walk that connects the massive corner towers.

Opposite the Rocca, Palazzo Boncompagni is an elegant Renaissance palace, built on a project by the architect Jacopo Barozzi, a native of Vignola. Its particularity is its totally suspended spiral staircase.

Emblem of the city, this bridge was built in 1638 by the architect Luca Danese of Ravenna. It consists of five wide arched staircases. Under the arcades, five canals (today there are only three), the access roads to Comacchio and the exits to the sea used to converge. In front of the bridge, the old fish shop occupies a characteristic building also dating from the 17th century and restored several times. Further on is the Ponte degli Sbirri ("Bridge of the Cops"), so named because of its proximity to old prisons.

La Rocca rises on one of the three hills overlooking Brisighella. Erected in the 14th century by the Manfredi family of Faenza, it consists of two cylindrical towers and a fortified enclosure. It is a fine example of military architecture between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. From the Rocca you can take a path that leads to another rocky spur, dominated by the Torre dell'Orologio. The tower was part of 13th century fortifications. Rebuilt in 1850 with the clock, it is an excellent vantage point for observing the town and the surrounding hills.

Erected around the year 1000 on the top of the Bertinoro hill, La Rocca welcomed Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1177, who stayed there for several months with his retinue. In the 16th century, when Bertinoro became the seat of a bishopric (and remained so until 1970 when the diocese was united with that of Forli), the Rocca was converted into a residence for bishops. Today it is a university centre attached to the University of Bologna. Its undergroundgalleries house the Museo Interreligioso, dedicated to the three monotheistic religions.

First mentioned in ancient chronicles in 1048, he belonged to the Zanardi Landi family since the th century. In the case of a private residence, visits are carried out in the presence of a guide and only in certain parts of the residence. It is possible to visit beautiful rooms with furniture from the period from 1500 to 1800, underground, prisons, the weapons room and the Museo del costume sicurezza (museum of military uniform), which brings together uniforms and weapons from the Risorgimento in the Second World War.