- Address
- piazza G. Marconi 23, 41037 Mirandola (Mo)
- Tag place
Description
Mirandola, Castle
In the past, the castle of Mirandola was a big complex composed of various buildings from different historic periods. Seat of the Pico family whose members were princes then dukes of the city, the complex was chosen as the symbol of the political power of the dynasty that uninterruptedly governed Mirandola State from the 14th century to 1708. In 1499, on the foundations of the 14th century existing buildings, a solid keep was erected according by the initiative of Giovan Francesco Pico II. However, the town knew its happiest time during the reign of Alexander I and of his nephew Alexander II. In fact, in that period the castle gradually enlarged and occupied the wide quadrilateral of the North-West end of Mirandola becoming an elegant home to the court. At that time, two more districts, a complex of wide gardens and the New Gallery -which now contains the Pico’s family artistic collections - were created. After the Este’s had kicked out the last Duke and had taken control of the town, the palace became a stronghold. In 1714, during a storm, a thunderbolt burnt a powder keg-like tower causing a big explosion that partially turned the complex into rubble. After nearly a century of decay, most of the complex was demolished by order of Modena Dukes. Today the castle comprises the New Gallery and a neo-Gothic keep which was built during the 20th century.
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