What to see in the surroundings of our agriturismo? Here are three splendid examples of ducal residences, testimonies to the prestige of the d’Este family.
Ducal Palace of Rivalta
Situated a little over 10 kilometres from our agriturismo, the Ducal Palace of Rivalta (known to everyone as the Reggia di Rivalta) is considered one of the last Delizie Estensi, the leisure and holiday residences of the Este court. It was built starting in 1723 on the model of the Palace of Versailles and was part of a larger complex that also included the Villa di Rivaltella and the Vasca di Corbelli. The project was first entrusted to architect Giovanni Maria Ferraroni from Reggio Emilia and then to Bolognese architect Ludovico Bolognini (the same who designed the Tricolour Room). Of the original building, plundered during the Napoleonic occupation, only the south wing (probably intended for servants) and the chapel (incorporated into farm buildings) remain, while of the park and gardens only the fenced perimeter and an oval basin in partial ruin remain. The villa can only be visited internally during events and initiatives, but can be admired from the outside.
Ducal Palace of Sassuolo
The Ducal Palace of Sassuolo, about 10 kilometres from our agriturismo, is one of the most beautiful and important Baroque residences in northern Italy. The present-day appearance of the palace is due to Duke Francesco I d’Este, who in the first half of the 17th century commissioned the Roman architect Luigi Bartolomeo Avanzini to transform the ancient and massive family castle into a modern, out-of-town residence for the court. Surrounded by the extensive green spaces of the Ducal Gardens, the palace is famous for its magnificent frescoes painted by some of the most important artists of the time, including: Jean Boulanger, official court painter; and Agostino Mitelli, quadraturist painter of extraordinary calibre. The large ducal complex also includes: the Palatine Chapel dedicated to St Francis, one of the most significant examples of the Este Baroque; and the Peschiera (or ‘Fontanazzo’ as it is called by the people of Sassuolo), an evocative water theatre of the Este family.
Ducal Palace of Modena
Located just over 25 kilometres from our agriturismo, the Ducal Palace of Modena is considered by art and architecture experts to be one of the most beautiful 17th-century princely palaces in Europe. Commissioned by Duke Francesco I d’Este, it was built starting in 1634 on the site of an ancient Este castle and designed by architect Luigi Bartolomeo Avanzini, with contributions from Girolamo Rainaldi, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Francesco Borromini and Pietro Da Cortona. The palace enchants visitors with its magnificent façade, two-storey loggia and elegant interior rooms. Once the sumptuous residence of the Este dukes, it currently houses the prestigious Military Academy of Modena and can only be visited on Saturdays and Sundays by appointment. The visit itinerary includes the Honour Courtyard, the Parlatory, the Honour Staircase, the Loggia, the Military Academy Museum Room, the State Apartment, the Unified Circle Staircase and the Academy Courtyard.
Photo gallery © (1) Nicola Tampelloni – (2) Gallerie Estensi – (3) Elisabetta Baracchi
AGRITURISMO IL BRUGNOLO
Welcome to il Brugnolo
If you’re looking for completely independent apartments surrounded by greenery you really are in the right place here!
In fact, Brugnolo is immersed in the green nature of the Emilian countryside. For your relaxation, for that of your children, and again for the runs of your 4-legged friends, you will have 6000 square meters of park at your disposal!
