The ravishing Rocca Calcagnini Fortress stands in the heart of Formigine, a symbol of the local community and a center for collective historical memories. Built in 1201 by the city of Modena as a defense against attacks by the rival city of Reggio Emilia and to secure its control of the territory, beginning in 1300 the Rocca Calcagnini Fortress was passed among various local noble families until it became property of the Pio family of Carpi, the Estes, and finally the Calcagninis. Around 1400, when the fortress was under the control of the Pios, it was turned into a castle-residence that appears today much as it did then, with a marquis’s palazzo and grounds encircled by a wall with four corner towers and a guardhouse. During the Second World War, the fortress was irreparably damaged in a ferocious bombardment in which virtually the entire Calcagnini family was lost. In 1946, it became the property of the town government and was rebuilt and transformed for use as the city hall. Today the castle houses municipal offices on its ground floor (the city council chambers and a venue for wedding ceremonies) with reception halls located in the northeast tower. To make your visit to the Rocca Calcagnini Fortress extra special, don’t miss the Multimedia Museum of Archaeology. Beautiful and innovative multimedia displays tell the story of the fortress and of the Calcagnini nobility. The Calcagnini Fortress is Formigine’s sparkling “living room.” In addition to housing a restaurant and a wine cellar, each year the castle hosts events of all kinds—music, theater, and much more. Be sure to take advantage of them.
