Modena: the Ducal Palaces - Ducal Palace of Modena, Acetaia and Ducal Palace of Sassuolo

Modena: the Ducal Palaces - Ducal Palace of Modena, Acetaia and Ducal Palace of Sassuolo

Programme

• 07:45 meeting point inside Bologna Bus Station, in Piazza XX Settembre, at bus shelter 25 - please be punctual
• 08:00 departure by coach, arrival in Modena at approximately 09:00
• 09:00 Church of Sant'Agostino, the Pantheon of the Dukes and Duchesses of Este
• An ancient 14th-century church, in 1659, after the funeral of Duke Francesco I d'Este, but even more so after the death of Duke Alfonso IV, the interior of the church was permanently modified to transform it into the Pantheon Atestinum, a temple of eternal glory for the Este family and the European sovereigns linked to the dynasty. 47 statues, 12 busts and 12 reliefs. All the court artists were involved. Holy queens and empresses parade in the niches along the nave; in the ovals above are the kings, accompanied by allegorical figures; in the transept and presbytery, the saints of the Este family are surmounted by busts of popes and medallions with bishops. The ceilings feature paintings depicting the apotheosis of several saints: St Margaret of Hungary, St Henry the Emperor, the Blessed Beatrice d'Este, St Augustine, St Benedict of Norcia, St Dominic and St Francis de Sales. Since 1785, the church has housed Antonio Begarelli's extraordinary Lamentation over the Dead Christ.
• 10:40 Ducal Palace (now home to the Military Academy)
• In 1291, Obizzo II d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara, built a castle in this area. With the Devolution of 1598, the Este family had to cede the fiefdom of Ferrara to Pope Clement VIII. Modena thus became the new capital of the Duchy of Este. It was Francesco I d'Este, a cultured and ambitious man, who transformed the castle into a sumptuous palace, built from 1634 onwards to a design by the Roman architect Bartolomeo Avanzini. The palace housed the court until the last duke, Francesco V of Austria-Este (1859). Today it is the seat of the prestigious Military Academy of Modena. The rich itinerary of the visit allows access to the historic rooms: from the Courtyard of Honour, you pass through the Parlatory, the Grand Staircase, the Loggia, the private apartments of the Dukes, the Reception Apartments, the Private Audience Chamber, the Throne Room and so on, until you reach the famous Golden Drawing Room, the study of Duke Francesco III, who had it covered with gold-plated wood panelling in 1756.
• 12:00 Free lunch
• 13:45 Acetaia Leonardi, Visit to the vinegar cellar and balsamic vinegar tastingAn experience that completes and supports our day, allowing us to fully experience and understand the territory and its history. We could not miss out on a sensory experience linked to Modena's culinary excellence - not surprisingly called “black gold” - namely balsamic vinegar.
• 15:30 Palazzo Ducale di Sassuolo
• The palace is a jewel of northern Italian Baroque culture and is called “Delizia” (delight) for its precious architecture, marvellous decorations and beautiful setting in the wide Secchia valley. In 1634, Francesco I d'Este transformed an ancient castle into a summer residence and representative seat for the Ducal Court. The rooms were painted by extraordinary artists who interpreted the ambitious and patronising spirit of Francesco I: Jean Boulanger, official court painter, Angelo Michele Colonna and Agostino Mitelli, among the greatest Bolognese quadraturisti painters, and a large number of skilled decorators and sculptors. The walls and ceilings of the rooms are interwoven with allegorical themes and episodes from the history of the Este family, featuring heroes from mythology and classical and chivalric literature, all united to express the exalted programme of the nobility and “good government” of the Este family. In addition to the magnificence of the historic rooms, thirteen rooms housing more than 300 works from the deposits of the Galleria Estense in Modena complete the tour of the main floor: alongside the great masters of the past, the Panza de Biumo Monochromatic Light collection is also on display.
• 17:00 October Fairs
• A brief tour of the stalls, markets and stands at the October Fairs in Sassuolo
• 18:00 Departure for Bologna, estimated arrival time 19:00

Price:

Full price: €105

Reduced price with Culture Card: €100

Services included:

• Specialised Italian-speaking tour guide
• Earphones
• Entrance fees to the places indicated
• Bus

Meeting point:

Meet inside the Bologna Bus Station, in Piazza XX Settembre, at bus shelter 25

Refunds and changes:

In case of cancellation, the ticket will not be refundable.

Ticket sales are managed by Bologna Welcome Travel Agency