In the footsteps of the Este family

In the heart of Reggio Emilia, the Public Gardens represent a green oasis where history and urban memory intertwine, offering a first glimpse into the city's past.

In the area of the current gardens, built in the mid-19th century, once stood the ancient Cittadella, a fortified structure built by the Gonzaga family starting in 1339 as the seat of power. Over the centuries the layout remained unchanged even during Este rule, until its demolition in 1848. Today the space is dedicated to leisure, with tree-lined avenues and green areas ideal for a stroll through the city center.

Must-sees

• The statue of Ludovico Ariosto, placed in the gardens to commemorate his connection with the city
• The tree-lined avenues, perfect for a relaxing break before continuing on to nearby museums and squares

A short walk from the Giardini Pubblici, the Museums Palace represents one of the city's main cultural hubs, where history, art and local identity meet.

Inside the museum is an itinerary dedicated to the history of Reggio Emilia and the role of the Este court, with works and testimonies that recount the link between the city and its Renaissance past.
Among the most significant elements:

• The presence of works related to the Este artistic culture
• The account of relations between the city and other European centers
• The sections devoted to the representation of the world and geographical discoveries in the Renaissance and the city's history

To know

The City Museum houses a permanent section dedicated to the Este family: the narrative opens with a copy of Correggio's famous Night (The Adoration of the Shepherds), first taken from the Basilica of San Prospero by Francesco I d'Este for his court collection and then ended up in Dresden in the ill-fated Sale of Francesco III d'Este.

Contemporary arrangements make the visit engaging and accessible.

In the heart of the historic center, Piazza del Monte tells a story of trade, ingenuity and Renaissance figures who contributed to the city's economic development.

Walking through the square, one can see important evidence related to the ancient wool and silk guilds, activities that were fundamental to the growth of Reggio Emilia:

• Palazzo dei Mercanti del Panno, recognizable by its decorated ram-shaped capital
• Palazzo Busetti, an elegant 17th-century building linked to silk production and trade.

To know

• In the 16th century, silk development was also fostered by the initiative of Lucrezia Borgia, contributing to local economic growth
• The Canale Maestro was essential to these activities: water was used in the spinning, dyeing and manufacturing processes

Continuing into the historic center of Reggio Emilia, we encounter one of the city's most representative places, a symbol of its historical and cultural identity.

The Tricolour Flag Hall  was designed in 1772 by architect Ludovico Bolognini at the behest of Duke Francesco III d'Este, with the aim of building a new city archive.
Work was completed in 1787, but the hall remained unused until 1796, when it was chosen as the seat of the Congress of the Cispadane Republic.

To know

The hall is still the city's institutional headquarters and symbolic place, and the solemn atmosphere that recalls one of the most important moments in local history

Curiosity

To present the design of the hall, a wooden model was made by carpenter Giovanni Benassi, now preserved in the State Archives.

Continuing into the historic center of Reggio Emilia, one encounters an area rich in historical evidence, where monumental buildings and ancient neighborhoods recount centuries of city life between ducal power, devotion and community.

Must-sees

• Palazzo Ducale - elegant building built in 1783 as the seat of the governor and later donated to Duke Francesco IV d'Este, who used it as the town residence. Inside are tempera decorations made by Vincenzo Carnevali and Prospero Minghetti.
• Basilica of the Madonna della Ghiara, built by the Reggio Emilia community with the support of the Este family following an event believed to be miraculous.
• The old Jewish Ghetto - near Piazza Gioberti, with an intertwining of historic streets such as Via dell'Aquila, Via Monzermone, Via Caggiati, Via della Volta, Via Gennari and Via San Rocco.

To know

• The Jewish Ghetto was established in 1669 at the behest of Duchess Laura Martinozzi
• Via dell'Aquila owes its name to the Este eagle that marked the entrance to the neighborhood
• The ghetto gates were eliminated with the arrival of Napoleon's troops.

Visiting this area allows you to capture the architectural details and atmosphere of the historic streets.

From the historic center of Reggio Emilia comes to life a fascinating route between history, landscape and architecture: the Ducal or Eighteenth-century Promenade, an itinerary that connects the city to the countryside following an urban design of great value.

The route, which runs for about two kilometers from Piazza Gioberti to the San Pellegrino Bridge and then continues toward the Reggia di Rivalta Palace by crossing the Crostolo River Park, runs along two important urban axes:

• Viale Umberto I, historic 18th-century promenade
• Corso Garibaldi, born on the ancient bed of the Crostolo stream

Along the way, squares and widenings create a continuity between city and landscape, accompanied by the constant presence of water: from the redeveloped stretches of water in the squares to the monumental fountains and pools of the Reggia.

Must-sees

• The monumental fountains and obelisks of Viale Umberto I
• The statues of the Four Seasons, relocated to their original position
• The path through the greenery along the Crostolo River to the Reggia di Rivalta

To know

• The boulevard was designed by architect Ludovico Bolognini and represents one of the major urban interventions of the Este era
• A new bicycle and pedestrian access to the Este Duchy tourist system is planned near the San Pellegrino bridge, with dedicated services for visitors and cyclists.

Surrounded by greenery along the route of the Passeggiata Ducale, the Reggia di Rivalta represents one of the most important testimonies of the Este residence system in the Reggio Emilia area.

Built starting in 1724 at the behest of Francesco Maria d'Este and his wife Carlotta Aglae d'Orléans, the design is attributed to Giovan Maria Ferraroni, later continued by Francesco Bolognini and Giovan Battista Bolognini, while the garden was designed by Jean de Baillou.

Today, thanks to a major redevelopment, it is possible to stroll through the large park of about 26 hectares, admiring landscape perspectives between nature and architecture, including:

• the belvedere
• the potager (orchard-garden)
• the water system with pools and paths
• the caves and the pedestrian walkways

To know

• The Reggia was part of a larger system that also included the Passeggiata Ducale and other villas in the area
• Beginning in 1796, with the arrival of French troops, the gradual decline of the complex began, with demolitions and transformations of the area
• Only a few parts of the ancient complex remain today, including the residual wing of the palace and the Court Chapel, evidence of the palace's original grandeur.

Useful info

• The park is accessible to all, without barriers
• Lighting, seating, benches and visitor services are provided

Along the Via Emilia, in the locality of San Maurizio, a large 16th-century terracotta archway leads to the tree-lined avenue of access to the Mauriziano, the country villa of the Malaguzzi family (Ludovico Ariosto's maternal family) where the poet, worn out by court engagements, spent periods of pleasant vacation. Inside, it is possible to admire the decorative apparatus of the so-called "camerini" (of Ariosto, the Poets and the Horatii) with 16th-century frescoes depicting hunting scenes, landscapes, love scenes, episodes from history and figures of men of letters, in full harmony with the courtly and literary taste of the time.

People with reduced mobility can also visit the interior rooms of the villa, thanks to the"Furious Interactions" project. At the Old Palace of the Mauritian, located next to the villa and managed by a group of Reggio Emilia associations, it is possible to have several educational experiences: a guided tour of theeducational vinegar factory "The Vinegar of Ludovico Ariosto" and a visit to theeducational donkey farm "Donkeys of Reggio Emilia."

Just a few kilometers from the center of Reggio Emilia, in San Maurizio, is the historic country villa -known as Mauriziano- of the Malaguzzi family, maternal relatives of Ludovico Ariosto, who spent holiday periods here, getting away from court engagements.

The entrance to the villa is marked by an imposing 16th-century terracotta archway, which opens onto a striking tree-lined avenue

Inside the villa, one can admire the frescoed dressing rooms - Camerino dell'Ariosto, dei Poeti e degli Orazi - with 16th-century decorations depicting hunting scenes, historical episodes, landscapes and figures of men of letters, in perfect harmony with the courtly taste of the time

To know

• The villa served as a retreat for the poet Ludovico Ariosto, away from the responsibilities of the court
• The frescoes tell both literary stories and episodes of daily life and amorous games typical of the Renaissance

Useful info

• Educational vinegar farm "Ludovico Ariosto's vinegar": discover the secrets of balsamic vinegar production
• Educational donkey farm "Donkey of Reggio Emilia": interactive experiences with donkeys for children and families
• Full accessibility for visitors with motor disabilities thanks to the "Furious Interactions" project
• Guided tours and educational activities organized by local associations

Moving on to Scandiano we are going to discover one of the most imposing buildings in the province, a symbol of history, art and seigniorial power, which has seen a succession of famous people and extraordinary events.

The Rocca dei Boiardo was founded in the 13th century and transformed over the following centuries with medieval, Renaissance and Baroque interventions. Among the protagonists associated with the fortress:

• Francesco Petrarch stayed there
• Matteo Maria Boiardo was born there
• He hosted Pope Paul III Farnese and Giovanni Calvin, a great reformer
• In the dungeons he conducted experiments Lazzaro Spallanzani

The tour includes the Appartamento Estense, with rooms of 16th-century origin transformed by the Marquises d'Este in the 1700s:

• Sala dei Gigli: with frescoes and views of Scandiano
• Sala del Camino: decorations in rococo style
• Hall of the Drape: precious drape surrounding the vault of the sky
• Hall of the Alcove: frescoes with scenes of the Este military campaign
• Hall of the Eagles: busts of Luigi, Borso, Foresto and Rinaldo d'Este, works by the Modenese sculptor Castellino

To know

• Until the 18th century, the Rocca housed a cycle of frescoes by Nicolò dell'Abate, now at the Galleria Estense in Modena
• The Rocca dei Boiardo has welcomed scholars, artists and religious figures of European prominence

An ideal stop for those who love local history, Renaissance art and the atmosphere of medieval castles.