The Estense Ducal Garden, one of the oldest public parks in Modena
Today in the morning I have returned to Modena with my girlfriend for her job and since I had free time for me, I decided to go for a walk around the city. I've already been here several times so more or less I know a little but I decided to go to a place that I had passed some times nearby but had never entered.
The Estense Ducal Garden.
This is one of the oldest public parks in the city of Modena. The first time it appears in a historical record is in the year 1598. That year Duke Caesar ordered the construction of a garden in the northern part of the castle and decided not to put any kind of surveillance on it.
In 1634 the main building of the park called Palazzina was built. The architect who built it was Gaspare Vigarani. Something that caught my attention in the Palazzina was the sundial that is present in the tower of the building.
This park has received different restructuring over the years, the most important being those carried out in the 19th century by Francis III. These were the ones that gave the form that the park currently has.
Of course, at first it was not a public place. It was first opened to the public in 1752. Of course, with some guards who controlled and decided who could enter the park as it was not for everyone, we are talking about 1752.
In 1865, due to the problem of having unsustainable costs, the garden was donated to the General Council of the city of Modena and from then on it began to be a truly public place.
Currently in the park, activities such as concerts and small festivals take place from time to time. The Palazzina has also been converted into the Civic Gallery and has art shows all year round.
In the morning when I went there were not many people but in general it is a park full of life where many people from Modena go for a walk alone or with their family orjust to sit around and talk with friends. Especially when the weather is good, the park is always full of people.
Next to the park there is a botanical garden, the most important in the entire city, but that is material for another post.
Well, I hope this kind of virtual visit to this park has been interesting although to be honest, the photos do not do justice to the beauty and magnitude of the park. It is impossible with a camera to capture all that.