Palazzo Re Enzo
Encyclopedia
Palazzo Re Enzo is a palace in Bologna
, northern Italy
. It takes its name from Enzio of Sardinia
, Frederick II's son, who was prisoner here from 1249 until his death in 1272.
The palace was built in 1245 as an extension of the nearby Palazzo del Podestà
, which had proven insufficient for the exigences of the Commune of Bologna. It was therefore initially known as Palatium Novum ("New Palace").
Three years after the palace completion, Enzio was captured by the Guelphs at the Battle of Fossalta
, and after a short stay in Anzola
he was moved here, where he remained until his death.
In 1386 Antonio di Vincenzo finished the Sala dei Trecento ("Hall of the Three-Hundred"), which was to become the city's archive. The last floor was largely renovated in 1771 by Giovanni Giacomo Dotti. The current Gothic appearance dates from the restoration of 1905 due to Alfonso Rubbiani.
On the right of the palace is the access to the chapel of Santa Maria dei Carcerati, where the condemned to death went to. In the first floor was held the Carroccio
and the war machines, while in the middle floor were the offices of the praetor and the chapel.
family, later rulers of Bologna.
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It takes its name from Enzio of Sardinia
Enzio of Sardinia
Enzio was an illegitimate son of Emperor Frederick II and King of Sardinia.-Life:...
, Frederick II's son, who was prisoner here from 1249 until his death in 1272.
The palace was built in 1245 as an extension of the nearby Palazzo del Podestà
Palazzo del Podestà
The Palazzo del Podestà is a civic building in Bologna, northern Italy.The edifice was built around 1200 as the seat of the local podestà, the various functionaries of the commune. It stands on the Piazza Maggiore, near the Palazzo Communale and facing the Basilica of St. Petronio...
, which had proven insufficient for the exigences of the Commune of Bologna. It was therefore initially known as Palatium Novum ("New Palace").
Three years after the palace completion, Enzio was captured by the Guelphs at the Battle of Fossalta
Battle of Fossalta
The Battle of Fossalta is an en episode of the War of the Guelphs and Ghibellines in northern Italy. It took place in Fossalta, a small location on the Panaro river, and is especially remembered for the capture of Enzio of Sardinia, son of Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen.In the spring of 1249,...
, and after a short stay in Anzola
Anzola dell'Emilia
Anzola dell'Emilia is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 13 km northwest of Bologna.-External links:*...
he was moved here, where he remained until his death.
In 1386 Antonio di Vincenzo finished the Sala dei Trecento ("Hall of the Three-Hundred"), which was to become the city's archive. The last floor was largely renovated in 1771 by Giovanni Giacomo Dotti. The current Gothic appearance dates from the restoration of 1905 due to Alfonso Rubbiani.
On the right of the palace is the access to the chapel of Santa Maria dei Carcerati, where the condemned to death went to. In the first floor was held the Carroccio
Carroccio
A Carroccio was a four-wheeled war altar, mounting a large vexillum standard, drawn by oxen, used by the medieval republics of Italy. It was a rectangular platform on which the standard of the city and an altar were erected; priests held services on the altar before the battle, and the trumpeters...
and the war machines, while in the middle floor were the offices of the praetor and the chapel.
Legends about Enzio's captivity
Enzio was allegedly left free within the palace by day, but by night he was kept into a cage hanging from the ceiling. He was also allowed to meet women: in his will he mentions three natural daughters, but a legend talks about a fourth son he had from a peasant, Lucia di Viadagola. The son was called Bentivoglio, from the words "Amore mio, ben ti voglio" that he said to his beloved (meaning "My love, I'm fond of you"), and he would be the ancestor of the BentivoglioBentivoglio
Bentivoglio was an Italian family of princely rank, long supreme in Bologna and responsible for giving the city its political autonomy during the Renaissance.-History:...
family, later rulers of Bologna.