Ducal Palace - Military Academy

Modena’s Ducal Palace, once the sumptuous residence of the Estense Court and today the home of the military academy, is a splendid example of Baroque architecture and one of the most important royal palaces of the 1600s. The Italian Military Academy has its headquarters in the Ducal Palace of Modena, designed by the Roman architect Bartolomeo Avanzini and built from 1634 onwards. For more than 200 years, this was the home of the Este Court. You can visit the magnificent residence by booking one of the tours organized by the Tourist Information Office (0039 0592032660), available only on weekends. Inside, a majestic stairway takes visitors from the Main Courtyard to a loggia that gives access to three main apartments. Once the Duke’s Apartment, the Private Apartment houses today the Museum of the Military Academy, while the State Apartment contains frescoes and portraits of the Este family. The most spectacular rooms are the vast and elegant Grand Ballroom and the 18th-century Golden Salon. Roman architect Bartolomeo Avanzini designed the Palazzo Ducale, whose construction began in 1634. The Palazzo housed the Este Court for more than two centuries and is today the headquarters of the Italian Military Academy. The elegant façade has three windows placed side-by-side and crowned by balustrades with statues. The central and lateral parts are raised. The main courtyard, with its elegant two-storey colonnade, is considered a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. From here, visitors can access the monumental staircase adorned with Roman statues, which leads to the numerous rooms of the Estense Residence. A special mention should be made of the Throne Room, the Golden Salon, the Grand Ballroom and the Stringa Room. Today, the palace is the headquarters of the Military Academy and can be visited only with a guided tour on Saturdays and Sundays upon reservation. The guided tour also includes the visit to the Military Academy Museum, where weapons and armatures, memorabilia, relics and military items (flags, uniforms, drums, etc.) are on display.