Reggio Emilia has a pretty thriving expat community. We decided to go on a semi-local field trip to the Ducale Palace in nearby Sassuolo (about half an hour from us). The Ducal Palace of Sassuolo is a Baroque villa and during the thirteenth century, was recorded as part of the Della Rosa kingdom until the Este conquest of 1373. The renovation and decoration of the palace was commissioned by Francesco I d’Este, the duke who, following the loss of Ferrara in 1598, created a new image for Modena as capital of the state and brought the Este dukedom of Modena and Reggio Emilia back into the European political scene.
The artwork and detail was literally unbelievable. Look closely at the pictures because the artists painted columns and at first glance it gives the real impression of columns. In many rooms these little “tricks” were done by artists giving the impression of grandeur but at a much lower cost than having rooms with additional stories or columns, etc. During the tour (which took around 2.5 hours because it just kept going!) of the palace, we got to see the church in the complex, the architectural excavations and the grounds. After that the expat community went downtown for an aperitivo (where we saw a very nice car!). Great day!
