It is thought that Rocca di Vignola (MO) which stands on the river Panaro was built to defend the residential settlement from the Magyars after the Carolingian era. Donated in 1401 to Uguccione dei Contrari, a nobleman from Ferrara, it then became a sumptuous family residence.
The structure has a square floorplan with square towers at the eastern, southern and western corners and a round keep on the northern end. The castle is accessed from piazza Contrari. The Nonantolana tower stands in the courtyard that is immediately accessible from a 16th century loggia, a suspended corridor links it to the walkways.
The ground floor rooms conserve 15th century frescoes: the Room of the Lions and Leopards features felines against a myriad of roundels in the background; the Room of the Anelli has detailed decoration of crossed rings and the Room of the Doves has 227 doves painted on the walls.
The upper floor houses the Contrari Chapel, covered with frescoes of the stories of Christ; the Women’s Room featuring the crests of the Contrari wives; the Pavilion Room which depicts a garden with a tent where a wedding is taking place; the Dogs’ Room with depictions of dogs and hares; the Heraldry Room; the Tree Trunk Room whose name derives from the beams shaped like knotted trunks that outline the vaults of the ceiling; and the study of Uguccione Contrari.
In the highest part of the building are the sleeping areas for the guards, prisons with graffitied walls and wall walks.
Emilia-Romagna Film Commission
Viale Aldo Moro 38 — 40127 Bologna
Phone: +39 051 5278753
Email: filmcom@regione.emilia-romagna.it
