Audioguide by eArs

Brief History of the Fortress

Welcome to the Fortress of Vignola. Don't be intimidated by the austerity of the walls; the castle will reveal its secrets to you little by little, letting you experience the atmosphere of past centuries first-hand.The fortress stands in a strategic position towering over the flow of the Panaro River, with views of the Apennines: an important crossroads for travellers and goods. Since the 12th century, and perhaps even earlier, it has guarded the border between the territories of Bologna and Modena, as an outpost of border disputes, invasions, bloody battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, smuggling, but also a centre of exchange of ideas and cultures.The 15th and 16th centuries were the golden age of the castle and its village thanks to one family, the Contraris, and in particular to one man, Uguccione. As a Ferrarese nobleman of great ambition and undisputed talent, he was given the fiefdom of Vignola in 1401 by the Marquis of Ferrara, Nicolò III d'Este.Thanks to the Contraris' efforts, the Fortress was transformed from a bastion into a real palace: a worthy residence for a family climbing the political and social ranks. In fact, Uguccione's descendants obtained the status of count in 1453, then that of marquis in 1575. A few years after this last achievement, the heirless death of Ercole Contrari, the Younger, marked the end of the Contrari dynasty. Less than two years later, the Bolognese Giacomo Boncompagni, son of Pope Gregory XIII, purchased the fiefdom for the exorbitant sum of 70,000 gold scudi. The Boncompagni family ruled the marquisate for more than two centuries, until 1796, when a new player began to wreak havoc on the international scene: Napoleon Bonaparte...The fortress has been featured in many events in history. If you'd like to learn about them, we suggest visiting the Hall of Coats of Arms on the first floor. So shall we begin exploring?
Enjoy your visit!