- Address
- piazza dei Contrari 4, 41058 Vignola (Mo)
- Tag place
Description
Vignola, Contrari castle
Some documents dating back to 936 provided by Modena church state that the castle of Vignola was at that time owned by the city bishops. In 1227, the fortress passed under the control of the municipality of Modena. The Grassoni family owned it for almost a century. In 1336, because of its important strategic position – it rises up on the Panaro valley, not far from Bologna’s boundary - the stronghold was conquered by the Este, Marquis of Ferrara at that time. In 1401, Niccolò III of Este decided to give it as a feud to Uguccione Contrari. The new owner commissioned a great expansion and decoration work in order to make the fortress his residence seat, without renouncing to the stronghold’s strategic military functions. After the old structure underwent its first reinforcement works, from 1408 the fortress was completely transformed and acquired its current aspect. A great part of the frescoes decorating the 15th century structure were lost, except for some heraldic deeds at the ground floor and some late-Gothic frescoes decorating the chapel which represent Scenes of the life of Jesus Christ and the Evangelists.
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