Castles to visit Emilia-Romagna

Terre di Castelli (Land of Castles) was born from the union of eight municipalities of the province of Modena: Castelnuovo Rangone, Castelvetro di Modena, Guiglia, Marano sul Panaro, Savignano sul Panaro, Spilamberto, Vignola, Zocca. The objective: to promote the historical, artistic and gastronomic richness of this territory. You can discover medieval architecture through its castles and ancient villages, the flavours of the famous balsamic, kilometres of cycle paths passing through the river parks of Panaro. The website is rich in information.

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.

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.

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.