CASTELLO ESTENSE

In the centre of the town stands the castle of the d'Este family, imposing and compact, surrounded by a moat spanned by drawbridges. The decision to build this castle was taken in 1385 by Nicholas II, to protect himself from a popular uprising linked to a strong fiscal pressure, which coincided with a period of war, epidemic and famine. Also, a passageway allowed the court to evacuate the neighbouring palace and take refuge directly in the castle when the need arose. Over the centuries, the castle gradually lost its defensive function and became one of the most lavish seigniorial residences of the Renaissance. From the 15th century courtyard, we can see the spiral staircase with its wide steps that allowed the horses to get to the noble floor, so that the women could ride them comfortably from their apartments. On the ground floor, several rooms retrace the history of the d'Este family and that of the castle. The old kitchens and dungeons of Ugo and Parisina, protagonists of one of the most dramatic pages in the history of the Este family, are also on display. On the noble floor, a succession of rooms decorated in the 16th century with refined frescoes representing allegories and scenes inspired by mythology. They are due to several artists: Bastianino, Leonardo da Brescia, Ludovico Settevecchi. From the top of the Torre dei Leoni, when the fog is not too thick, the panorama of the city is worth the detour. The castle regularly houses temporary exhibitions.