Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale is a three-story Baroque palace in Sassuolo with ornate frescoes, decorated rooms, and grand staircases arranged in symmetrical design. The building contains ceremonial halls and now serves as a museum where visitors experience the splendor of a former ducal residence.

The building came into being when Francesco I d'Este converted a medieval fortress into a summer residence in 1634, commissioning architect Bartolomeo Avanzini for the transformation. This renovation made it a significant seat of the Este family in northern Italy.

The palace displays works by French and Bolognese artists that tell the story of the Este family and reflect their passion for art collecting. These paintings remain on the walls today, showing how the rulers lived and what they valued.

The palace is located at Piazzale Della Rosa and can be visited from Tuesday through Sunday. The rooms are well marked and provide a good sense of the collection's different time periods.

The collection holds about 374 artworks spanning different centuries, arranged chronologically across thirteen restored rooms. This arrangement shows how artistic taste and styles evolved across generations.

Location: Sassuolo

Inception: 17 century

Architects: Bartolomeo Avanzini

Floors above the ground: 3

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Gallerie Estensi

Phone: +390594395719

Email: ga-esten@beniculturali.it

Website: http://gallerie-estensi.beniculturali.it/palazzo-ducale

GPS coordinates: 44.54259,10.78014

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:49