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[Palazzo Ducale] |
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Name:
Palazzo Ducale, Salone delle Guardie |
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Design:
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Destination of use:
public building |
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Manufacturer:
emilceramica |
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City:
Sassuolo, Modena |
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Ceramic Materials:
terracotta |
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Country:
Italia |
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Type of intervention:
flooring |
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Costumers:
Ministero dei Beni Culturali |
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Year of completion:
1998-2000 |
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The Project |
In spite of its chequered history, we can still consider this a true pearl of the baroque period of Northern Italy: the Ducal Palace of Sassuolo (or Palace of the Este), in the province of Modena, dating back to the first half of 1400s. It is a true historical, artistic and architectural jewel that has recently reopened to the public after almost twenty years of restoration.
The palace, the castle of the local nobility during the XIII century, became the Ducal Palace in 1634 when the Prince of Modena, Francesco I d’Este, regained control of Sassuolo and relaunched the international image of his house after the loss of the Duchy of Ferrara in 1598. Bartolomeo Avanzini, a famous Italian architect also entrusted with the prestigious task of the Barberini Palace, was given responsibility for the renovation project. The set designer Gaspare Vigarini from Reggio supported him. Together, while translating the Prince’s dreams into reality, they transformed the ancient castle into one of the most envied monumental complexes in Europe.
The palace consisted of 1,800 hectares of gardens, meadows, tree lined avenues, large numbers of plants, statues, and fountains. It could be seen as a great theatrical machine whose terraces with panoramic viewpoints look over geometric gardens and the Peschiera (the fishery). A fairy-tale paradise, it offered the ideal setting for the summer residence of a sophisticated court such as that of the Ducal Palace of Sassuolo, a miniature Versailles at the bottom of the Modena hills where Francesco I d’Este was accustomed to go for vacations. |
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