Modena

State Archives former Dominican Convent (Archivio di Stato già Convento Domenicano)

Edited by

Daniele Pascale

Places of worship

Other denominations

Archivio di Stato già Convento Domenicano/Ex Archivio segreto estense/Ex Prefettura Dipartimentale del Panaro

D'Este's People

Francesco IV

Artists / Humanists

Bartolomeo Zambini, Biagio Magnanini, Francesco Ferrari, Geminiano Vincenzi, Giovanni Giaroli, Giuseppe Zanni, Pietro Minghelli, Vincenzo Blosi

Description

As it stands today, the vast complex of the former Dominican convent, of medieval origins and progressively enlarged over the centuries, has the appearance it was given in the Napoleonic era. Chosen as the seat of the prefecture, it was radically transformed to a design by Vincenzo Blosi. During the Restoration period, it continued to be used as government offices, and after the Unification of Italy, it became the premises of the State Archives. Its rooms now house the ancient Este archive, the main source for any research relating to the ancient Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio.