Il castello di Dinazzano è un antico edificio difensivo sito a Dinazzano, nel comune di Casalgrande, in provincia di Reggio Emilia.
Storia
In un documento del 968 risulta appartenente, assieme a Fogliano e Castellarano al Contado di Parma.

Nel 1180 il castello di Dinazzano risulta appartenente per un terzo al Comune di Reggio, che controllava così il percorso del Canale di Secchia ed il confine con Modena, per un terzo ai Montemagno, che in quello stesso anno cedettero la loro 'quota' ai reggiani affinché lo fortificassero, e per un altro terzo ai signori di Sassuolo.

Nel 1275 Bernabò da Magreta lo vendette a Manfredo da Sassuolo, della famiglia Della Rosa.

Nel 1318 i reggiani si ripresero il castello che venne poi nel 1335 assegnato ai Da Fogliano.

Nel 1409 i Da Fogliano, alleati di Ottobuono de' Terzi, furono sconfitti da Niccolò III d'Este, pertanto furono costretti a cederlo; dapprima fu infeudato ai Della Sala, in seguito il territorio passò ai Boiardo, divenendo parte della Contea di Scandiano.

Nel 1443 il castello fu ulteriormente fortificato.

Nel 1474, dopo vari contrasti tra il conte Matteo Maria Boiardo ed il conte Giovanni Boiardo, suo cugino, il territorio della Contea di Scandiano venne diviso: a Matteo Maria andarono i territori di Scandiano, Gesso, Torricella e Sabbione, mentre Giovanni prendeva Arceto, Casalgrande, Dinazzano, Salvaterra e Montebabbio. L’investitura per Giovanni Boiardo di questi territori, tra cui Dinazzano, fu confermata dalla Camera Ducale Estense una prima volta nel 1475 e successivamente nel 1490[1].

Nel 1499, alla morte del conte Camillo Boiardo, senza eredi, il territorio diviso nel 1474 venne riunificato nuovamente dal conte Giovanni Boiardo.

Descrizione
Il castello di Dinazzano sorge sulla pedecollina reggiana. Dalle sue mura, ora diroccate e pericolanti, era possibile dominare oltre al canale di Secchia, anche tutta l'alta pianura compresa tra Reggio e Modena. Oggigiorno resta in buono stato la torre del mastio, dotata di merlatura e piombatoi.

Castello di Dinazzano

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The architectural complex, which covers an area of 5000 square metres, has been rebuilt numerous times through its history. Originally erected in 1315 as a defensive stronghold by the Da Fogliano family, it was transformed into the noble residence of the Boiardo family (1423-1560) and later became the Renaissance palazzo of the Marquis Thiene (1565-1623) and the princes of Este (1625-1726).

The complex comprises coexisting structures from the Middle Ages (postern tower at the north entrance and the arches of the courtyard), the Renaissance (portico of the courtyard), and the Baroque period (staircase, two-light mullioned windows, architraves of the courtyard, stucco decorations in the Estense apartment). The entire history of Scandiano and its people took place around the castle. The poet Matteo Maria Boiardo was born in a room on the first floor; in the basement rooms the great scientist Lazzaro Spallanzani was known to conduct his experiments. Illustrious guests at the castle included the poet Francesco Petrarca, the reformer Giovanni Calvino, and Pope Paul III. Here on 10th October 1796, freedom and Napoleon were extolled, and Scandiano joined the Cispadane Republic. Once again inside the castle, the plebiscite was held on 11th March 18?0 which sanctioned the admission of Scandiano to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Up to the 18th century, the castle held an important cycle of frescoes by the painter Nicolò dell’Abate, which are now conserved at the Galleria Estense in Modena. Many artists worked in the castle, including Bartolomeo Spani, Giovan Battista Aleotti, and Antonio Traeri.
The grand staircase of the castle was conceived in its original configuration by Giovan Battista Aleotti in the early 1600s. The pincer-like staircase was added some years later and was probably commissioned by the Bentivoglio family. The terracotta statues probably depict distinguished members of the Thiene family and were created in 1619 by the Genoese sculptor Giova Battista Pontelli. The four surviving statues among the many created by Aleotti (including an equestrian one) probably depict, starting from the top of the staircase and proceeding anti-clockwise: Marcantonio, Ottavio I, Giulio, and Ottavio II Thiene. The latter statue (the most successful one) shows affinities with Classical statuary. It is not to be excluded that the stylistic archetypes of the other three warriors with their “monstrous armour” and demigod posture can also be found in Classical statuary.

https://turismo.comune.re.it

Boiardo Fortress

Il castello di Arceto è un edificio che domina il centro storico dell'abitato di Arceto, frazione Scandiano, in provincia di Reggio Emilia.
Storia e descrizione
Tipico castello medioevale del quale sono ancora visibili i percorsi dei fossati e delle mura.

Attestato già alla fine del IX secolo, l'edificio venne consegnato ai vescovi di Reggio dall'imperatore Ottone I di Sassonia nel 962. Dopo essere appartenuto per anni alla famiglia Da Fogliano, Arceto venne ad essi strappato dagli Estensi e nel 1414 consegnato ai Boiardo, che provvidero a importanti interventi sugli edifici.

Nel 1474, dopo vari contrasti tra i due feudatari Matteo Maria Boiardo e Giovanni Boiardo, il territorio della Contea di Scandiano venne diviso: a Matteo Maria andarono i territori di Scandiano, Gesso, Torricella e Sabbione, mentre il cugino Giovanni prendeva Arceto, Casalgrande, Dinazzano, Salvaterra e Montebabbio. L’investitura per Giovanni Boiardo di detti territori fu confermata dalla Camera Ducale Estense una prima volta nel 1475 e successivamente nel 1490.

Nel 1499, alla morte del conte Camillo Boiardo, figlio di Matteo Maria Boiardo, successore di questi come feudatario di Scandiano, il territorio diviso nel 1474 si riunì nuovamente sotto il controllo di Giovanni Boiardo.

Nel 1565 il castello divenne di proprietà Ottavio I Thiene, marito di Laura Boiardo, figlia ed erede del penultimo feudatario Giulio Boiardo. La nobile famiglia dei conti Thiene, durante la sua amministrazione del feudo (1565-1622), fece costruire all'interno del castello l'oratorio dedicato a San Rocco e la rocca.

Il castello, tra il 1622 ed il 1634 passò sotto il controllo diretto di Casa d'Este, per poi passare ai Bentivoglio e successivamente nel 1643 al ramo cadetto degli Este di Scandiano.

Nel 1740 il marchese Giovanni Battista De Mari restaurò la rocca, apportando importanti modifiche e aggiungendo degli edifici laterali. È del 1751 la realizzazione di un grande scalone interno ornato di cinque statue in terracotta.

Nel 1777 il castello passò a Livia De Mari (figlia di Giovanni Battista), sposata con il marchese Andrea Spinola della nobile famiglia genovese degli Spinola di San Luca, marchesi di San Donnino di Liguria, Arceto e Corticella. Nobili dei marchesi di Lerma.

Nel 1796 il castello di Arceto verrà tolto agli Spinola, in seguito all'abolizioni dei feudi.

Nel 1811 per decreto napoleonico il castello tornerà in possesso degli Spinola, che lo rivenderanno successivamente al banchiere Parodi; quest'ultimo lo rivenderà a sua volta a Flaminio Regnani.

Attualmente il Comune di Scandiano è proprietario di parte del castello e del piano nobile.

Castello di Arceto

While archaeological exploration and restoration of the fortified Sarzana castle complex in Casina (province of Reggio Emilia) were proceeding, some preliminary archaeological campaigns were conducted contemporaneously with execution of the architectural restoration works. The archaeological campaigns, conducted in two distinct phases, revealed the structure of a church inside the castle walls associated with a group of interment burials. Habitation at the site is documented from the Tenth century. All traces had been lost of the church. Excavations identified the apse as the oldest phase of building dating to the Roman era with at least two successive building phases until the church was deconsecrated in the mid-Nineteenth century. The archaeological and restoration works revealed the relation between the castle fortifications, the place of Christian cult and the burial ground. The historical research related to the archaeological investigation and restoration works is being conducted now. Results will be published in a book dedicated to this fascinating corner of the Apennine range that was so profoundly linked to the historical events and settlements of the Attonidi feudal lords.

https://www.tecton.it

Castello di Sarzano

In the tenth century, where today we admire the majestic castle,there stood a small church, perhaps already dedicated to St. Bartholomew.In 1201 the Modenese troops suffered a military defeat in the Formigine area,and consequently decided to fortify the zone.
From the mid thirteen hundreds the defensive structures were rationalised and the village was transferred outside the fortified area. When taken over by the Pio family, the rulers of Carpi, in 1405, the castle took
on its present aspect: the aristocratic residence known as the Marquis's
Palace was built beside the older nucleus.
In 1599 the castle passed to the d'Este family, who in turn ceded it as a feud to the Calcagnini family in 1648. During the Second World War, Formigine and its castle suffered heavy bombing damage, but immediately after the war the town council purchased the entire complex, repaired it and turned it into a municipal residence.

The old Castle and its Museum
The Museum and Archive Centre are housed in the oldest part of the castle, offering a fascinating
journey through time from the tenth century to the present day. There is a stimulating dialogue between
the interactive multimedia installations created by Studio Azzurro, a cultural research organisation
based in Milan, and the historical and archaeological research directed by the Venice Ca' Foscari University.

The Marquis's Palace
The part of the building originally used to accommodate the family of the ruling lords is the area
that today greets the public as they enter the castle. An information room near the reception explains
the history of the monument and the various parts that can be visited. On the first floor are the more
"institutional" rooms: the town council's Assembly Chamber, the Matrimonial Chamber, and various large rooms that may be rented for exhibitions, meetings or conferences.

The Archaeological Park
The park area contained within the castle walls covers an area of over 4,000 square metres and offers a
prospect of thriving greenery against the backdrop of the ancient towers. Thanks to a viewing point
connected to the old castle the visitor can look out across an archaeological site displaying the remains
of the small ancient monastery dedicated to Saint Bartholomew, as well as the adjacent bell tower and various tombs.

https://www.visitmodena.it

The castle of Formigine

The castle, probably dating back to before the 11th century, formed part of a vast fortified system made up of the forts of Rocca S. Maria, Fogliano, Nirano, Torre delle Oche and Fiorano.
In the late Middle Ages, under the rule of the Da Spezzano and Da Castello Signoria, or Lordship, the castle was made up of simple, functional forms: first, a boundary wall, initially in perishable material, the keep, one or two towers, a few houses, the well and particularly the granaries and storage houses for the harvests from the introduction of the moat in the 14th century, the castle was accessed by way of a drawbridge to the north.

Until the 15th century, the castle acted as a place of defence and refuge for the people, having watchtowers and pentagonal towers for visual communication, and succeeding, particularly during the wars of the 14th century, in resisting against attacks and sieges, like the one in 1355, during which the Este troops failed to storm the castle and take it by force from the ruling Visconti family. In 1395, marquis Alberto d’Este granted the castle in fief to Marco Pio, earl of Carpi. In the early years of the 16th century, Alessandro Pio of Savoia reorganised the State of Sassuolo, establishing Spezzano Castle as one of the five seats of the Podesta’. With the Signoria of the Pio di Savoia, the castle began to act as a residence of the lord, or ‘signore’ as well as a political, administrative and legal centre, leaving behind its function as a medieval fort.

In the last room on the ground floor of the west wing, restoration work brought to light a wooden ceiling decorated with polychrome panels bearing heraldic coat-of-arms (Pio and Bentivoglio), the initials of Enea Pio and the date 1531, which can be considered the end of the first phase of construction of the palazzo, which also includes, on the first floor of the castle, the Gallery of Battles e and its pictorial cycle and, in the Old apartment, known as Clelia and Marco’s, the bedroom with the marital coat-of-arms. The second phase, destined to complete the western and northern façades and mainly focused on decorative work, began in 1587, when Marco III Pio acquired the state of Sassuolo. Surviving of these works are painted architraves on the main floor, or piano nobile and the extraordinary Hall of Views on the ground floor.

At the end of the sixteenth century, presumably between 1595 and 1596, Marco III Pio (1567-1599) had painted, in the main room of Spezzano castle, the principal sites of his dominion: a sequence of no fewer than 56 views which featured even the smallest corners of his fief, made up of property in Modena and more in Sabina, received, in 1595, as a dowry from his wife Clelia Farnese, whom he married in Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola (Viterbo) on 2 August 1587.

The main room was thus decorated by Cesare Baglione with a cycle of paintings aiming to celebrate the power of the Pio di Savoia through the depiction of castles, towns and villages, from the plains to the mountains, belonging to the State of the Pio family, divided into five districts of the podesta’: Sassuolo, Spezzano, Formigine, Brandola and Soliera.

The fresco cycle, geo-iconographic and landscape in nature, finished in the vault of the room with the depiction of a crowned woman, the personification of Pietas, bearing the quartered Pio shield and the motto "Pia Soboles", the Pio dynasty.

The substantial restoration work, carried out in the mid nineteenth century, led to the cancellation of the paintings on the vault, as well as of the Pio shield, which can still be made out beneath the depiction of Spezzano dating back to that time. Painted in the Gallery of Battles, on the piano nobile of the castle, are epic feats that featured (from 1509 to 1512) Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio as the protagonist.

Meanwhile, around 1735, the Marquis Luigi Coccapani saw to the first restoration of the frescoes in the Hall of Views, while the cycle of paintings in the gallery were (or perhaps already in the previous period) completely cancelled.

Their rediscovery occurred following the disclosure and restoration work concluded in 1992.

The lower floors of the pentagonal tower at the south/east corner, inside the castle boundary wall, are home to suggestive dungeons bearing prisoner’s etchings and graffiti, while the second and third floor hosts the Municipal Vinegar Factory made up of three vats of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, complete with information panels and original furnishings. Marco Pio di Savoia died in 1599 and after a brief period of government led by the Este family, in 1629 the fief and Spezzano castle was transferred to the Marquis Guido Coccapani, whose family ruled until 1796.

During this period, besides its fundamental role as a residence and centre of the Signoria, the castle was also used for meetings of the Municipal council. In the Chamber called “della Ragione”, the Council met in the presence of the Podestà to elect the regents and officials of the Municipality and to deal with local affairs. Inside the castle was a court, known as the Pretorio, where the Podestà sat to serve justice and, next to it, rooms used as the judge’s residence. There were also four prison cells, located at the base of the two towers, on the south side and inside the home of the Podestà.

In the years that followed, the abolition of the court, the final dissolution in 1809 of the Municipality of Spezzano and the change in the castle’s judicial status definitively sealed the transformation of the building into a sumptuous manor house. In fact, in 1810, the Spezzano castle went back to being a private residence, for the Coccapani Imperiali family, which carried out various extension and restoration work, particularly in the years between 1862 and 1890; the castle was also given a new façade on the south side, by building a castle-style boundary wall with rectangular or Guelph battlements and large servants quarters, today used as a restaurant and caretaker’s house. Spezzano castle belonged to the Coccapani Imperiali family until the end of the nineteenth century, when it was inherited by Counts Pignatti Morano.
The Municipality of Fiorano then purchased the building in 1982, launching at that time both its restoration as well as historical–cognitive research into the castle.

https://www.visitmodena.it

The Castle of Spezzano

La Sala del Tricolore è la sala consiliare del comune di Reggio nell'Emilia, città capoluogo dell'omonima provincia, in Emilia-Romagna. Si trova all'interno del municipio della città emiliana. Qui, il 7 gennaio 1797, nacque la bandiera nazionale italiana, da cui il nome del salone. Adiacente alla sala è situato il Museo del tricolore. Fa parte del circuito Associazione dei Castelli del Ducato di Parma, Piacenza e Pontremoli.
Le origini di questo salone risalgono al 1768, quando il duca di Modena e Reggio Francesco III d'Este decise di far realizzare un archivio statale centrale che avrebbe dovuto conservare tutti i documenti del ducato emiliano. La scelta dell'architetto a cui affidare la redazione del progetto e la costruzione del nuovo salone cadde su Lodovico Bolognini, che realizzò poi l'opera dal 1772 al 1785.
Durante i lavori di costruzione Giovanni Benassi, falegname di corte, sempre sotto la supervisione del Bolognini, costruì dal 1773 al 1774 un modello in legno del salone a cui mancavano, rispetto alla versione moderna, le balconate: al loro posto vennero previste le scaffalature per la conservazione dei documenti, a cui si accedeva tramite dei rampari in legno.

Poco dopo la fine dei lavori si decise di non destinarla ad archivio: la grande quantità di documenti in essa contenuti avrebbe potuto causare un vasto incendio, con tutte le conseguenze del caso Per decidere la destinazione d'uso della sala, scartata quella d'archivio ducale, venne istituita una commissione. Questa consulta propose, tra l'altro, anche il suo frazionamento in più locali da adibire ad uffici ma il duca si oppose rimandando la sua decisione.

Sala del Tricolore di Reggio Emilia

Situated on the Antognano mountain (m 805 above sea level), the castle overlooks the valleys of the rivers Secchia and Tresinaro. The building of the first fortified defensive garrison dates back to X century and was made by Atto Adalberto di Canossa, an ancestor of Matilde di Canossa. It was in fact during the reign of this very resourceful countess that the castle reached the highest point in its history: the countess enriched the castle building adding to the complex the romanic church of Sant’Andrea, sanctified in 1077 and still well preserved.
The Castello delle Carpinete was the core of the cristian world during the age of the fights for power over Europe between Popedom and Empire, and in 1092 it hosted the convention of Carpineti, a very important event in the history of the conflict between Popedom and Emperor Henry IV.
The castle has the structure of a castle-enclosure, and the first wall belt was originally included borough and church.
Inside this first belt there was another wall belt defending the fortified core of the complex, smaller and higher.
In this very last defensive stronghold were the most important military and residential buildings: the mastio – a tower shaped fortress – and the water tanks.
The square tower has four different levels, still recognizable by the signs on the walls.
The top of the fortress and its absolutely stunning view can today be reached by an external staircase.
It is still possible to see the cemetery of the castle borough, that dates back to XVI century.

https://www.comune.carpineti.re.it

Castello delle Carpinete

The castles were defensive outposts in a first line of defence for Canossa against attack coming from the direction of Lombardy or the alpine passes. Over the centuries Bianello was both stronghold and home to the Canossa family until the mid-18th century when it became a noble residence. The castle is a compact building, its outer walls built to a polygonal plan. A stone tablet at the entrance to the castle walls bears the inscription: "Comitissae Matildis opus", but the castle, and the other three, are in fact of earlier construction. The origins of the castle as a lookout tower can be traced back to the 10th century. Matilda herself resided almost habitually at Bianello and it was here that she hosted a penitent Henry V before the historic meeting of 1077. Popes and princes were guests at Bianello and in 1111 Matilda received Henry V after his coronation in Rome and was herself proclaimed by him Imperial Vicar in Italy. These were the beginnings of the peace established at the Concorde of Worms ten years later. After the death of Matilda the castle remained in the Canossa family. The castle then underwent numerous transformations which changed it into a noble residence, but it still conserves some interesting elements of the original stronghold and in one of the rooms a painting of the 14th century depicting Matilda holding a pomegranate flower and the words "tuetur et unit". From the castle there is an exceptional panorama of one of the most fertile valleys in the world.

Matilda's residence and Henry V's visits are commemorated in a celebration of the events which has been repeated annually for the last twenty years, and which has seen the creation of the "Matilda Prize".  At the foot of the hill is a church, restored several times over the years, which conserves an interesting carved lunette, an architrave decorated with floral patterns and a hand raised in blessing, and several stone fragments decorated with the simple, refined art typical of buildings, especially religious buildings, of that time.

https://turismo.comune.re.it

Bianello Castle

The Castle of Canossa is a castle in Canossa, province of Reggio Emilia, northern Italy.

It is especially known as the seat of the Walk to Canossa, the meeting of Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy (1077).

History
The castle was built around 940 by Adalberto Atto, son of Sigifredo of Lucca, a Lombard prince, on the summit of a rocky hill. Apart from Adalberto's residence, it included a convent with 12 Benedictine monks and the church of Sant'Apollonio. It was protected by a triple line of walls; between the two lower lines were the barracks and the residence of the servants.

During the Middle Ages, it was one of the most impregnable castles in Italy. Here in 950 Adelaide of Italy, the widow of King Lothair II, took refuge; Berengar II of Ivrea besieged her for three years, but in vain.

The next most relevant episode is the famous reconciliation between Henry IV and Gregory VII, who was a friend of Matilda of Tuscany, who had inherited the castle, the centre of an impressive chain of watch towers and castles. Matilda established that her lands would be assigned to the Church after her death (1115), but her heirs did not accept it.

In 1255 the men of Reggio destroyed the castle and the church. Later it was returned to the Canossa family. After the death of Giberto da Correggio in 1321, it was again a possession of Reggio until 1402, when Simone, Guido and Alberto Canossa gained it back; in 1409, however, they ceded it to the House of Este, who (apart a short period under Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma in 1557) held it until 1796.

In 1502 Ercole I d'Este named the poet Ludovico Ariosto castellan. He resided here for six months. In 1593 Canossa was assigned as fief to the Counts Rondinelli. In 1642 Duke Francesco I entrusted it to the Valentini. The latter were ousted in 1796 by the rebellious local population, who joined the Republic of Reggio.

After being returned to the Valentini, in 1878 the Castle was acquired by the Italian State, and was declared a national monument.