Parco Giardino Ducale Estense — Attraction in Modena

L'origine del Giardino Ducale Estense, già Giardini Pubblici, si può far risalire al 1598, anno in cui il duca Cesare fece recintare con una siepe un ampio spazio incolto a Nord del Castello. La trasformazione in giardino fu realizzata negli anni successivi seguendo una tipologia frequente nel giardino rinascimentale. Nel 1634 furono ultimati anche i lavori di costruzione della palazzina del Vigarani, edificio di bella fattura che conserva i classici caratteri dell'architettura seicentesca. Successivamente, dopo quasi un secolo di abbandono, sotto la corte di Francesco III, venne creato l'orto botanico, ripristinata la struttura interna del parco fino alle sostanziali modifiche avvenute a metà 800 che ci hanno consegnato un'area a giardino "misto", con una zona ad aiuole ben disegnate per mantenere un raccordo formale con i vari edifici ducali e le rimanenti zone a boschetto. Attualmente il parco è fortemente caratterizzato dal disegno originario e dalla presenza della pregevole palazzina Vigarani che emerge in tutte le principali prospettive. Sul piano vegetazionale va sottolineata la presenza di alberi appartenenti a diverse specie di notevole grandezza e importanza. . . . The origin of the Estense Ducal Garden, formerly the Public Gardens, can be traced back to 1598, the year in which Duke Caesar had a large uncultivated space enclosed by a hedge to the north of the castle. The transformation into the garden was carried out in the following years following a frequent typology in the Renaissance garden. In 1634 construction work was also completed on the Vigarani building, a beautifully constructed building that preserves the classic features of seventeenth-century architecture. Subsequently, after almost a century of neglect, the botanical garden was created under the court of Francis III, the internal structure of the park was restored until the substantial changes that occurred in the mid-800s that gave us a "mixed" garden area, with an area with well designed flower beds to maintain a formal connection with the various ducal buildings and the remaining grove areas. Currently the park is strongly characterized by the original design and by the presence of the valuable Vigarani building that emerges in all the main perspectives. On the vegetational level the presence of trees belonging to different species of considerable size and importance should...

A lovely little playground tucked beneath the shade, perfect for kids to enjoy without the midday sun. The park is filled with the unmistakable buzz of cicadas, giving it a true summer-in-the-south feel. It’s also a great spot for a stroll, featuring a picturesque pond teeming with hundreds of vibrant koi. While it was fairly quiet during our morning and early afternoon visit, it’s easy to imagine the place coming to life in the evening—there were areas clearly set up for live music and beer taps waiting to flow. Looks like a fun community hub...

It's nice enough but the gardens aren't particularly well looked after. There is a bar in the middle of the park but it's only open in the warmer months. There is often entertainment of some kind on summer evenings. The bar doesn't have a toilet and you get told to use the public pay toilet which isn't always open.

The park has the usual array of drug dealers,, alcoholics and and illegal immigrants which seem to be resident in all Italian parks. These people also use the park...