Delizia of Fossadalbero (Delizia di Fossadalbero)

The castalderia of Fossadalbero already existed in 1415, there is no possibility to establish precisely when it was provided with a palace. What is known is that it was built in two phases, probably both to be attributed to the initiative of Marquis Nicolò III d’Este, who reigned for almost half a century, from 1393 (when he was only ten years old) to 1441: the two building campaigns can be reasonably placed during the first forty years of the 15th century. The result was a complex of disproportionate size for the period, hardly comparable with the country residences of the lords of the time, with the exception of Belriguardo, also founded by Nicolò III in 1435: the villa of Fossadalbero in fact consisted of more than sixty rooms hinged around two courtyards. The particular importance of the building is confirmed by the figurative fresco cycles found there, inspired by chivalric epics: The Paladins, Tristan and the lesser-known Febus, knight without blemish, protagonist of a Tuscan poem from the late 14th century.