Delizia Estense del Verginese

Timetable

Winter opening hours from November to February

-Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

-Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Annual closures: December 25 and 26 and January 1)

Summer opening hours from March to October

-Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

-Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Every Sunday, guided tours are included in the admission ticket: 11:00 a.m. “A casa d'Este”, 3:30 p.m. “Mors Inmatura”

Prices

Full price: €3.00

Reduced price: €2.00 (children aged 6 to 12, over 65s)

Free admission:
-children under 6
-residents of Portomaggiore

Dogs allowed

Originally a country farmhouse, Verginese was transformed into a ducal residence in the early 16th century by Alfonso I d'Este and given to Laura Eustochia Dianti.

Delizia Estense del Verginese, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is one of the most valuable examples of the power of the lords of Ferrara in the surrounding area. An ancient leisure residence, the structure appears as a crenellated castle surrounded by the Brolo, a magnificent Renaissance garden designed to combine aesthetics and productivity through the geometric perfection of orchards, rose gardens, and ancient vineyards.

Within the complex, the dovecote tower bears witness to the strategic importance of the site as a lookout and communication point, while the ground floor of the villa houses the “Sepolcreto dei Fadieni” Archaeological Museum, which displays finds from a local Roman necropolis, revealing details of daily life during the Empire. The property is completed by the Vinaia del Sapere, once used for drying grapes and now transformed into a modern cultural center for exhibitions and meetings.

The former chapel of the castle, directly connected to and adjacent to the portico and the historic garden, is used for civil wedding ceremonies (info tel. 0532 329050).

Archaeological Museum - Sepolcreto dei Fadieni

Since 2022, the Delizia has housed an Archaeological Museum displaying finds from a Roman family necropolis dating back to the 1st-2nd century AD, belonging to the Fadieni family and discovered by chance in 2002. The exhibition faithfully reproduces the original layout of the site, presenting five funerary steles and twelve cremation burials with grave goods consisting of everyday objects and urns, mainly made of glass. Recently, in 2023, the exhibition was modernized with the integration of digital and multimedia content to offer visitors a more in-depth and engaging experience.

Brolo

Delizia del Verginese stands out for its “Brolo”, a faithfully reconstructed historic garden that represents a perfect example of harmony between aesthetics and Renaissance utility. In this space, aromatic plants, rose gardens, and ancient fruits are enclosed by the evocative “Vite Maritata,” a traditional cultivation system in which vines are supported by living trees.

A key element of the garden is the Torre Colombaia, which in the past served both as a center for communication via carrier pigeons and as a practical resource: the birds provided a food supply and their guano was used as natural fertilizer for crops, anticipating modern concepts of organic farming.

In addition to the garden, the complex includes the “Vinaia del Sapere”, a former drying room now used for cultural events, and permanent exhibition rooms that illustrate the deep connection between the residence and the Portomaggiore area. Today, the Delizia is not only a cultural tourist destination but also a venue for civil weddings and receptions.

Contacts

Via del Verginese Portomaggiore (Ferrara)

Tel. 0532 329050
335 236673
verginese@atlantide.net

https://www.amaparco.it/parchi/delizia-estense-del-verginese/