For anyone who loves places where paper oozes history and silent rooms resonate with centuries of thought, this itinerary represents a real journey through memory.
This 72-hour itinerary between Bologna and Modena winds through historical libraries, civic archives, rare collections and surprising collections in cities of art and hidden villages.
A slow and immersive experience, suitable for everyone, where culture intertwines with the architecture and beauty of the spaces. Each stage becomes an opportunity to listen to the voices of the past and rediscover the pleasure of discovery.
The itinerary is designed to last 72 hours, but it is advisable to consider a possible one-day extension, depending on your pace and interests.
We start our journey in one of the most fascinating places in Modena: the Estense University Library, a real treasure trove that preserves some of Italy's most precious cultural treasures.
Founded by the Dukes of Este in the 14th century, it has always been a major reference point for culture and research.
The many important texts include works of exceptional value, such as the Monumenta of Estense miniature art, the Bible of Borso, the Genealogy of the Princes of Este, the Missal of Borso, the Breviary of Ercole, the Obizzi Collection of Catajo and the Muratori and Tiraboschi Letters.
Founded as a private library of the Estense dynasty, it is inextricably linked to the history of the family and accompanied the political and cultural experiences of the duchy until its dissolution and the unification of Italy in 1860. In 1882 it was moved to the current headquarters of Palazzo dei Musei.
Experience a unique opportunity and immerse yourself in the history, art and culture of Modena as you explore a bibliographic heritage that recounts centuries of history and learning!
A few steps away from the Historical Archives in the heart of Modena, we find an essential stop-off for lovers of art, architecture and urban design: the Luigi Poletti Civic Art Library.
Founded in 1872 after architect and engineer Luigi Poletti donated his personal collection to the Municipality, the library is today a reference point for the study of the visual arts and the architectural history of the city.
It has continued to rejuvenate itself over time, gaining unique materials and specialist collections, including:
It is a place that combines memory and contemporary vision, a place where creativity converges with research and the identity of the city takes shape amidst bookshelves and projects.
The first day ends in Carpi with a visit to one of the most valued places for the local historical memory: the city’s Historical Archive.
Founded in 1538, this archive has brought together and preserved documents that tell the political, social and administrative life of the city, creating a vivid and multifaceted image of it over the centuries.
Among the most significant collections are:
Alongside these collections, the archive houses papers dedicated to the Resistance, the post-war period and local culture, including materials by local scholars.
It recently acquired the documents of film director Liliana Cavani, which offer a fascinating look at her long career in Italian cinema.
Curiosities
In 1997 the Archive was recognised as an asset "of considerable historical interest" by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. It is a place that is not only a deposit for documents, but the beating heart of Carpi's memory and its transformations over time.
The next stop leads to Bentivoglio, in the heart of the Bolognese plain, where the evocative Palazzo Rosso stands in all its splendour, an elegant nineteenth-century mansion once owned by the Marquis Carlo Alberto Pizzardi.
The name of the building immediately refers first of all to the vivid colour of its facades, but it is inside that the true wonder is revealed: frescoed ceilings, neo-Gothic stuccoes and the spectacular Zodiac Hall, where the signs of the zodiac and the months of the year tumble across a painted sky.
Considered one of the most fascinating examples of the Æmilia Ars – an artistic movement that fused craftsmanship, medieval aesthetics and decorative refinement, the palace is a little known treasure of great value.
Today, these noble spaces house the municipal library; a residence thus becomes a living cultural centre. Here, book heritage engages with local history, offering visitors an experience that combines architecture, art and reading.
Palazzo Rosso is currently closed for restoration. It should reopen by the end of 2025. See the dedicated page for updates
From the Apennines we move to the Imola area and the village of Fontanelice, where we can discover the Giuseppe Mengoni Archive Museum, dedicated to one of the most visionary architects of the 19th century.
Born right here in 1829, Giuseppe Mengoni is remembered above all for having designed the majestic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, an absolute masterpiece of commercial architecture and a symbol of Italian urban modernity.
The museum houses a rich documentation collection: original drawings, architectural models, correspondence and projects that let you explore not only his works, but also his social and aesthetic concept of the city.
A place that recounts the talent and ingenuity of a great designer whose legacy lives on in the squares and buildings he created.
The itinerary continues through the green valleys of the Bolognese Apennines, to the village of Pianaccio, where the memory of one of the greatest Italian journalists is cherished: Enzo Biagi.
Right here, in the village where he was born in 1920, is the Enzo Biagi Documentation Centre, a centre dedicated to his life, his career and his extraordinary civic commitment.
The centre houses the journalist's personal library, consisting of a rich collection of articles, interviews, books and audiovisual materials that cover over half a century of Italian and world history.
Through his words and reporting, the visitor is taken on a journey through the events, characters and epochal changes of the twentieth century.
This centre is much more than an archive: it is a custodian of living memory, a tribute to ethical, critical and passionate journalism. An opportunity to reflect, understand and rediscover the value of the story as an instrument of truth.
