Palace of Marfisa d’Este (Palazzina di Marfisa d’Este)

The building that bears the name of Marfisa d’Este was actually built by her father, Francesco d’Este, Marquis of Massa Lombarda and brother of Duke Ercole I. Having returned from the exile into which his brother had forced him, in 1572, Francesco d’Este bought the Palazzo Neroni (now Bonacossi) and the surrounding land, with the intention of making it a secluded but sumptuous residence. The building, begun in 1559, was to constitute the view onto the Corso della Giovecca of the large surrounding garden. On his death, the building passed to his daughter Marfisa, who lived there until her death and probably had the beautiful loggia overlooking the garden, known as the “Theatre”, built. Upon her death, the building began a long period of decline, from which it only recovered at the beginning of the 20th century when the interior (with its fine frescoes by the Bastianino school) and the gardens were restored by the municipality. Unfortunately, it remained permanently separated from the Bonacossi palace due to the construction of the Marfisa Tennis Club.