Visit
The Fortress of Vignola, “forte fabrica all’anticha con due recinti di mura con tre torri et diverse altre commodità” presents itself to the visitor as an imposing quadrilateral, the final product of many construction phases and in particular those brought by the Grassoni first and the Contrari later, who transformed it from a stronghold to an imposing noble residence.
On the left side of the facade is the entrance hall formerly defended by drawbridges, moat, gates and portcullises of which two gates and vestiges of the rest remain today. On the right stands the Torre del Pennello, behind it, in the corner of the quadrangle overlooking the Panaro River, the Torre delle Donne and lastly the tower called Torre di Nonantola: the oldest and most imposing. On the outer wall that runs between this tower and the entrance hall is a rounded bastion called Rocchetta, which, due to its singular shape, stands apart from the remaining architectural structure.
The Rocca, built on limestone rock, commonly called “tuff,” overhanging the river, is configured today on five floors, from the dungeons, where the Sale dei Grassoni and Sale dei Contrari are located, to the patrol walkways.
VisitUnderground
The former basements, once used for food storage, have given way to the majestic Contrari and Grassoni rooms, with their characteristic walls of river stone and red brick, now used as cultural spaces.
VisitGround floor
The tour on the second floor starts from the Rocchetta used in ancient times as a fortress and continues through the state rooms, used for official moments of court life such as banquets, parties, music, and theater.
VisitFirst Floor
On the first or noble floor, arranged in a U-shaped path between the towers and the keep, are the rooms that constituted the apartments of the lords of the fortress and where family life took place.
VisitSecond Floor
Spacious rooms on the second floor, paved with river pebbles or cocciopesto, developed the rooms used by troops stationed in the fortress and servants.
VisitWalkways and Towers
Continuing the ascent, one reaches the spalti, or patrol walkways, that embrace the perimeter of the Rocca, connecting the Nonantola, Donne and Pennello towers.