Estense Fortress of San Felice sul Panaro (Rocca Estense di San Felice sul Panaro)

Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the Rocca of San Felice sul Panaro was an essential Este military stronghold, guarding that narrow border strip that connected the domains of Modena to those of Ferrara. The fortress, erected in 1340 at the behest of Obizzo III d’Este, helped to strengthen the defences of an inhabited centre attested from as early as the 10th century as ‘Castello Sancti Felicis’.

The complex was built in the south-eastern corner of the defensive perimeter of the town with eminently military purposes. It consisted of a rather simple masonry structure, composed of a keep and an enclosure with one entrance on the southern side and another on the opposite side.

Under the reign of Nicolò III d’Este (1393-1441), renewed effort was made by the ruling house to strengthen the fortress, which was transformed, taking on an appearance not dissimilar to that of today.

Today, the castle has a quadrangular layout with an inner courtyard, a keep with an escarpment base and four other towers, three of which are located at the apexes and one at the northern entrance. The towers and the tops of the enclosure featured a jutting structure composed of corbels and dovetail battlements with an overhanging roof.