The history and legends that revolve around a beautiful Bolognese palace. Palazzo Re Enzo, in the post all the tips for visiting it at fairs, events, festivals: the calendar is really full.
Piazza Maggiore is the heart of Bologna e Re Enzo Palace is the heart in the heart of the square.
Probably my favorite palace in this city, for its majesty and its incomparable position. To date, the palace opens from time to time, often on weekends, to host various types of events and, sometimes, even beautiful parties in the sumptuous hall of the PodestĂ .
The history of Palazzo Re Enzo
The history of this building has always bordered on legend and it seems that its origins date back to 1200. In this period the city of Bologna proceeds by expropriating a series of houses and religious buildings, to create the current Piazza Maggiore, then realizing it there some of the beautiful buildings, still used today for public functions, first of all the Palazzo del PodestĂ and that of the Capitano del Popolo.
Palazzo Re Enzo was then built, as an extension of the Palazzo del Podestà , calling it "Palatium Novum”To differentiate it from this, between 1244 and 1246.
Only a few years later, in 1249 it becomes residence and prison of King Enzo of Sardinia, son of Frederick II, who will spend the last twenty-three years of his life here, giving the palace its much better known name.
The story of King Enzo
The story of King Enzo, beyond his imprisonment, is probably little known. Heinrich of Hohenstaufen, this is his original name, was the son of Frederick II and seems to belong to Adelaide of Urslingen. He acquired the Italianized name of Enzo to distinguish him from his half-brother, who had the same name but was the eldest and legitimate son of his father Frederick II and Constance of Aragon. For this he became first Heinz, then Enzio and finally Enzo.
Life between history and legend
History and legend tell of his charm, his blonde hair and also his courage and his skills in the military. Enzo di Svevia married Adelasia di Torresma at the age of 18. Since the Pope in office at the time did not like the union, his father was excommunicated first and then also himself. But it was here that he became King of Sardinia and continued to consider himself as such even after the excommunication and the annulment of the wedding.
In 1239 his father appointed him imperial vicar, which made him a prominent figure among the Ghibellines as well as a protagonist of the continuous struggles on Italian territory. In 1248 he returned to Cremona, his hometown, where he became PodestĂ and where he remarried. From that moment he took part in many other military campaigns, which led him, in 1249, to the battle that will change his life forever, when the Bolognese Guelphs attacked Modena and he went to the rescue of the city and was defeated and captured in Fossalta.
From that moment he begins his imprisonment in the splendid palace that will take his name and lead him to his death in 1272. As per his will, King Enzo was buried in the nearby Basilica of San Domenico, where it still remains today. In his memory you can see a plaque and a portrait of him in the basilica on the left wall of the main altar.
The legends about Palazzo Re Enzo
There are many legends about Palazzo Re Enzo and its history. First of all it seems that King Enzo, during his imprisonment, was treated with all the honors, so much so that he could have a small royal court around him. The legends range from his amorous adventures with young Bolognese ladies to the story with a simple peasant woman who brought vegetables to the market, passing every day under the beautiful palace. This last legend, in particular, tells that from this relationship with the peasant a son was born, who would later become the progenitor of the famous Bentivoglio family.
Another legend tells that Frederick II of Swabia, Enzo's father, offered in vain, in exchange for his son's release, a golden thread so long that it could surround the walls of the entire city of Bologna.
The legendaries were also famous escape attempts. Among these, one of the best known is depicted in two bas-reliefs decidedly ruined by the centuries, which are located on the side pillars of the Palazzo del PodestĂ and tell that, thanks to the complicity of a wine bearer, King Enzo managed to get out of the palace just hidden in a vat for wine, which the accomplice carried on his shoulders. The bad luck would have it that from the window of a building opposite, a woman saw King Enzo's blond hair sticking out of the tub and called the guards who imprisoned him again.
The Palace today
As anticipated at the beginning of the article, today the palace cannot be visited when you want but opens from time to time. Often weekends, to host various types of events, public or admission by ticket and, sometimes, even splendid parties in the majestic hall of the PodestĂ . Periodically it also opens to semi-private events such as congresses and conventions. I point out in particular, if you love electronic music or art installations, the events organized on the occasion of Artefiera, or for the Robot Festival, or, if you love food (and who doesn't love it?), the events dedicated to wine or Tortellini tastings, but there are many others, the calendar is very busy.
To monitor the openings and events at Palazzo Re Enzo and take the opportunity to visit it, I recommend that you keep an eye on the official website and that of Bologna Welcome. The Palace is so beautiful and evocative that it is worth any excuse or event to go inside and take a look.
