Palazzo Re Enzo and Palazzo del Podestà
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These two palaces are united in a single complex in Piazza Maggiore. The older palace is Palazzo del Podestà, built at the same time as the main square in the year 1200. It was a seat of the podestà – high officials in Italy during the Middle Ages. The Palazzo del Podestà is very different from how it looked originally, also because of the reconstruction when Palazzo Re Enzo was added in 1245.
In the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, the Palazzo del Podestà was used as a theatre. At the beginning of the XXth century, it was decorated with frescoes in Michelangelo’s style, depicting the history of the foundation of Bologna, the arrival of the Romans, the university, the captivity of Enzo, etc.
Enzo was King of Sardinia and son of Emperor Frederick II. He was imprisoned in the palace built originally for the city authority as Palazzo del Podestà became too small for it, but the new palace served Bologna officials for only a few years.
In 1249, the palace became a prison for the young King of Sardinia, who was kept there for 23 years. Enzo was captured during the Battle of Fossalta, and his father wanted to pay Bologna a ransom. He offered so much money that it would have been possible to build a wall all around the city, but Bologna’s citizens refused and Enzo remained in the palace until he died.
During the daytime, Enzo was kept with all of the other prisoners but, at night, he was put in a cage and hung high up from the ceiling. Bologna’s authorities granted Enzo a permit for visits by women, and he even had several children.
Today, these palaces serve as exhibition spaces, restaurants, tourist information offices, shops, etc.
The most interesting tourist attraction is the special acoustic effect that exists beneath the vault that connects the two palaces. If you stand in the corner and speak to the wall, someone standing in the opposite corner will hear everything you say.
In the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, the Palazzo del Podestà was used as a theatre. At the beginning of the XXth century, it was decorated with frescoes in Michelangelo’s style, depicting the history of the foundation of Bologna, the arrival of the Romans, the university, the captivity of Enzo, etc.
Enzo was King of Sardinia and son of Emperor Frederick II. He was imprisoned in the palace built originally for the city authority as Palazzo del Podestà became too small for it, but the new palace served Bologna officials for only a few years.
In 1249, the palace became a prison for the young King of Sardinia, who was kept there for 23 years. Enzo was captured during the Battle of Fossalta, and his father wanted to pay Bologna a ransom. He offered so much money that it would have been possible to build a wall all around the city, but Bologna’s citizens refused and Enzo remained in the palace until he died.
During the daytime, Enzo was kept with all of the other prisoners but, at night, he was put in a cage and hung high up from the ceiling. Bologna’s authorities granted Enzo a permit for visits by women, and he even had several children.
Today, these palaces serve as exhibition spaces, restaurants, tourist information offices, shops, etc.
The most interesting tourist attraction is the special acoustic effect that exists beneath the vault that connects the two palaces. If you stand in the corner and speak to the wall, someone standing in the opposite corner will hear everything you say.
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