Spezzano Castle

Spezzano Castle is a fortress in Fiorano Modenese that blends features from different periods, including a pentagonal tower, a porticoed courtyard, and reception rooms with detailed frescoes. The frescoes depict the territories that belonged to the Pio family's domain in the 16th century.

The fortress arose in the 11th century as part of the defense system built under Matilda of Tuscany. The Pio family later redesigned it into a noble residence in 1529.

The castle houses a Museum of Ceramics that shows how pottery production developed from ancient times to modern industrial methods. Visitors can trace the different techniques and styles that emerged in this region over many centuries.

Visitors can book guided tours that include a visit to the vinegar production rooms, where Traditional Modena PDO Balsamic Vinegar is made. Plan time to explore the courtyard and interior rooms, as there is much to see.

The Room of Views contains Renaissance paintings depicting more than fifty locations across the Pio family's territories, forming a visual map of their holdings in the 16th century. These paintings reveal how important it was for the nobility to record and display their power across a wide region.