Valsamoggia
The Rocca di Bazzano, originally a medieval castle, has a rich and complex history.
Its origins date back to before the year 1000, when castles and fortifications were built throughout the Po Valley area to defend against barbarian invasions. In 1038, the Bishop of Modena Guiberto granted the castle and church of Santo Stefano in emphyteusis to Marquis Bonifacio di Canossa, Matilda's father. After Matilda's death, the castle returned to Modena.
Over time, it underwent various transformations, and during the Renaissance era, Giovanni II Bentivoglio turned it into a stately "delizia" for country vacations. The current appearance of the Rocca dates back to this Renaissance phase. During the Renaissance, the Rocca di Bazzano was adorned with wall paintings and coats of arms, many of which are still visible today. The Hall of the Giants is the largest in the Rocca and features architectural columns with landscapes and figures of armed men. Other rooms, such as the Sala del Camino, the Sala dei Ghepardi and the Sala delle Ghirlande, feature decorative motifs and coats of arms of the Bentivoglio and Sforza families. Throughout its history, the Rocca di Bazzano has served various functions; it was used as the seat of the Capitanato della Montagna (Mountain Captaincy), as evidenced by the documents preserved in the Archives of the Captains and Vicars of the Municipality. Over the centuries, the building has housed various functions, including prison (where, in June 1799, the poet Ugo Foscolo was imprisoned), theater (in the Sala dei Giganti), barracks, school and private homes, until the 1960s.
Today it is part of the historical and cultural heritage of the region and has always been at the center of the historical and cultural events of Valsamoggia and here you can find the archaeological museum "Arsenio Crespellani".
Show moreIts origins date back to before the year 1000, when castles and fortifications were built throughout the Po Valley area to defend against barbarian invasions. In 1038, the Bishop of Modena Guiberto granted the castle and church of Santo Stefano in emphyteusis to Marquis Bonifacio di Canossa, Matilda's father. After Matilda's death, the castle returned to Modena.
Over time, it underwent various transformations, and during the Renaissance era, Giovanni II Bentivoglio turned it into a stately "delizia" for country vacations. The current appearance of the Rocca dates back to this Renaissance phase. During the Renaissance, the Rocca di Bazzano was adorned with wall paintings and coats of arms, many of which are still visible today. The Hall of the Giants is the largest in the Rocca and features architectural columns with landscapes and figures of armed men. Other rooms, such as the Sala del Camino, the Sala dei Ghepardi and the Sala delle Ghirlande, feature decorative motifs and coats of arms of the Bentivoglio and Sforza families. Throughout its history, the Rocca di Bazzano has served various functions; it was used as the seat of the Capitanato della Montagna (Mountain Captaincy), as evidenced by the documents preserved in the Archives of the Captains and Vicars of the Municipality. Over the centuries, the building has housed various functions, including prison (where, in June 1799, the poet Ugo Foscolo was imprisoned), theater (in the Sala dei Giganti), barracks, school and private homes, until the 1960s.
Today it is part of the historical and cultural heritage of the region and has always been at the center of the historical and cultural events of Valsamoggia and here you can find the archaeological museum "Arsenio Crespellani".
Map
Rocca of Bentivoglio
Via Contessa Matilde 10
40053 Valsamoggia
Telephone: +39 051 836441
Interests
- Art & Culture
