Delizia del Verginese

The ancient residence of the d'Este family

Gambulaga, Municipality of Portomaggiore.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Delizia Estense del Verginese is today one of the few Delights that testify in the territory of Ferrara the greatness and importance of the lords of Ferrara. Donated by Alfondo I d'Este to Laura Dianti, the Delight is presented as a castle adorned with merlons and surrounded by a magnificent garden, the Brolo.

Reconstruction of the ancient productive garden that surrounded the villa and that offered fruits from spring to autumn, the Brolo allows you to discover the habits in life in Renaissance. Walking through the tree-lined avenues, surrounded by pomegranates, pears, apple trees, hazelnut, you can admire the geometric perfection of the symmetries, with a few ornamental flowebeds embellished with rose bushes and open spaces of flowering prairies.
The garden is surrounded by a vine maritata, which revives the ancient planting of the vines plain.
The presence of the dovecote towe at the end of the garden had many reasons to exist. It was in fact the sighting tower and the place where the travelingg pigeons, responsible for communications, lived and reproduced.

Inside the Delizia you can admire two permanente exhibitions: "Mors Inmatura", an exhibition of Roman archaeological finds from a small Roman necropolis a few steps from the Deliza that tell the story, the daily life and economic activities of a family in this corner of the Roman Empire; an exhibition of works by Mario Maranini dedicated to rurual civilization.

Next to the castle, there is the Vinaia del Sapere, once a drying room, recently renovated and destined for exhibition. meetings and cultural activities.
AT CASA D'ESTE
Every Sunday at 11.00 a.m.
Guided tour of the Delizia and the garden included in the entrance ticket.

MORS INMATURA
Every Sunday at 3.30 p.m.
Guided tour to the archaeological exhibition "Mors Inmatura" preserved inside the Delizia: Roman necropolis of I-II century a.C.

LUIGI BASSETTI: SOLO PAINTING EXHIBITION
Until Sunday 24 November 2024
Exhibition at the Vinaia del Sapere in the Delizia Estense del Verginese

DINNER WITH THE GHOST
Friday 15 November at 8.00 pm 
Candlelight dinner inside the church of the Delizia, during which an expert guide will narrate all the mysterious events that have occurred in the building over the centuries. After dinner, the guide will take participants on an evocative tour illuminated only by torchlight inside the rooms of the Delizia and in the brolo, the back garden, following the evidence recorded in the investigations carried out over the years by a team of paranormal specialists.

STORIES OF WOMEN SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE 
From Saturday 16 November to Wednesday 18 December 2024
"From emergency to autonomy" exhibition at the Foresteria della Delizia Estense. 

CHILDREN'S AFTERNOON
Saturday 16 November at 4.00 pm
‘Laura's spirit": it is said that the owner of the castle, Laura Dianti, never left it, not even after her death ... Will the participants be brave enough to follow clues and riddles to find out if this is really the case? And if Laura's spirit is to be found in the much-loved rooms of the Verginese, will they be able to find it?

Saturday 7 December, 4.00 pm
"Save Christmas": someone has broken into the Castle and stolen all the decorations! But he has left several clues... Participants will have to follow them to find the theft and bring the Christmas atmosphere back to the Castle.

MUSIC WITH TEA
Themed concerts followed by tea tasting and fine pastries at the Vinaia del Sapere in the Delizia Estense del Verginese.

Sunday 17 november 2024 at 4.00 pm 
Harp Harmonies: a journey through classics and musical landscapes.
Aurora Bottacin, Harp.

Sunday 15 november 2024 at 4.00 pm 
Marco Polo: a journey through the fascination of ancient Music.
Stefano Squarzina, flute; Roberto Felloni, lute and oud; Marco Cirelli, historical percussion.

Sunday 19 January 2025 at 4.00 pm
La stravaganza, harpsichord music of various inspirations.
Silvia Rambaldi, harpsichord.

Sunday, 16 February 2025 at 4.00 om
Sonate serenissime.
Cecilia Zanni, cello; Tiziano Berardi, cello; Renzo Rossi, harpsichord.

Sunday 16 March 2025 at 4.00 pm
Bach and Mozart, two myths compared.
Renzo Rossi, harpsichord.

Sunday 13 April 2025 at 4.00 pm
Homage to Mafalda Favero, 120 years after her birth
Sonia Visentin, soprano; Alberto Zanetti, baritone; Renzo Rossi, piano.


Info and reservations: Ph. 335 236673 | verginese@atlantide.net