Castles are often far more interesting seen from the outside in their setting compared
with what one gets to see inside. My
visit to the Rocca di Vignola was an exception.
Vignola is famous for its cherry orchards. I remember some
years ago I had to visit frequently a building project in this area during the cherry season. I
would always stop off at a farm on the way back to buy a crate of cherries.
They soon disappeared once I got them home.
After looking at Net, the Rocca di Vignola seemed to be the
most interesting castle at the base of the Apennine foothills in the Province
of Modena, so as it was too hot to go walking I decided a visit to this castle
would be a different way of passing a
boring Sunday afternoon.
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
When I arrived I had a nice surprise. There is no admission charge to visit the
castle and photography was allowed, so no need to carry just one small “stealth camera”.
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
The first part I visited on the first floor contained some
splendid frescoed rooms, I found the
room with wedding scene and another with
hunting scenes to be particularly
magical. These frescoes date from the fifteenth century. The frescoes in the private chapel are also
very impressive.
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
The next stop was the main tower which entailed a steep climb up a staircase
that is long way from respecting modern rules!
From the top of the tower I had a good view over the town. The prison cell at the bottom of the tower
that you squeeze down a narrow staircase to enter is also quite interesting.
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
The second floor has the covered ramparts and what was the
area where the troops defending the castle lived. Here one finds as in other parts of the castle
some curious graffiti that has been left
down the centuries.
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Rocca di Vignola, MO |
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| Vignola, MO |
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