Sassuolo's Ducal Palace, Modena

In the XVI century, it was turned into a sumptuous stately home by Pio di Savoia, and starting from 1643 it was transformed into a splendid Baroque residence thanks to the innovative ideas of Duke Francesco I d'Este and the contribution of artists like Jean Boulanger, the Cittadini brothers, Monti, Bianchi, Colonna, Mitelli and the architect Bartolomeo Avanzini, who also worked at Modena's Ducal Palace.

Gianlorenzo Bernini realized some sketches depicting the statues and fountains of the entrance and the courtyard: a terracotta sketch by one of his pupils, Antonio Raggi, who came to Sassuolo to draw the so-called Fountain of “Sea God with dolphin”, is still cherished by Modena's Estense Gallery.

The splendid inner staircase, which is embellished by sumptuous trompe l'oeil ceilings, stucco decorations and precious statues depicting Classic Gods, leads to sumptuously frescoed halls which celebrate the glorious vicissitudes experienced by the Estensi Family. The so-called Bacco Gallery, the rooms of the Duchess, the Hall of the Guards, the flat of the Duke and the so-called stuccoed hall are covered with outstanding decorations depicting Bible stories, Herodotus histories, Classical mythology, Homer's poems and the vicissitudes of the great scholars who worked at the Este Court, such as Ariosto and Tasso. They were realized by the French artist Jean Boulanger, who was a pupil of Guido Reni's School in Bologna and worked for the Este Family, and by some further artists who contributed to the realization of one of the most beautiful Baroque residences in Italy.

The terraces still retain some evidences which bear witness to the fact the residence once suited defensive purposes, since they were obtained cutting the towers that stood at the corners of the structure. Some impressive buttresses can still be observed, while the top of the tower was destroyed to give way to the terraces.

The terrace of the rooms of the Duchess gives visitors the possibility to admire a peculiar structure: the so-called “Peschiera” or “Fontanazzo”, a large swimming pool provided with steep staircases and huge stages which once hosted spectacular water performances and small naval battles. It was once decorated with outstanding mosaics, shells, frescoes and water fountains, and was aimed at making visitors enjoy the utmost peace and tranquillity.

The so-called "stuccoed” hall was embellished with white and gold stuccoes and precious paintings by Boulanger, Guercino and Salvator Rosa. Unfortunately, only few are cherished by Modena's Estensi Gallery, while most were moved to a private picture gallery in the eighteenth century and were subsequently sold, or got lost after the time of Napoleon, when Sassuolo's Palace was sold to a private individual who retained it up to the end of the Bourbon Restoration. Unlike Modena's residence, Sassuolo's Ducal Palace was not regained by the Estensi Family after 1815, and remained the property of the Monuments and Fine Arts Office for few decades only. Today the Palace can be visited on Saturday and Sunday, while during the week it is open upon booking only.

The bright colours, fantastic trompe l'oeil ceilings, sumptuously decorated vaults, enchanting stuccoes and rich decorations of Sassuolo's Ducal Palace are still able to attract large numbers of visitors.