BED AND BREAKFAST IN BOLOGNA   ACCOMMODATION IN BOLOGNA   ERBORISTERIA   WEBMASTER

King Enzo, the illegitimate son of the emperor Frederick 11 was the great Ghibelline personality in Bologna. On May26th, 1249, the Guelphes won their first pitched battle against the troops of the Emperor, near Modena, on the Via Emilia, at the Fossalta bridge. On this same day, among the Modenese Ghibellines the Bologna Guelphes took the Emperor's son prisoner and put him in the "Palatium Novum" (later called "of King Enzo"), built adjoining the "Palatium Vetus" (called "of the Podesta") between 1244 and 1246. The building is one of the most rapresentative in the main square of the town, Piazza Maggiore. On King Enzo's imprisonment there was great festivity. He remained in this palace until his death in 1272. He became part of the Bologna legend and the anniversary of his capture gave the opportunity to celebrate every year "la festa dell a porchetta" (roasted pig's day) which was held until the 18th Century to evoke the Guelf tradition of the city. King Enzo's Palace was extensively restored by Rubbiani at the beginning of this century. After the Fossalta victory, the Guelphes ( Pope's suppporters) increase their power in order to drive away the Ghibellines (Emperor's supporters) in 1274.
Four years later Rodolph de Habsbourg sanctioned the Guelf success by definitively giving the sovereignty over Romagna and Bologna to the Pope.
 

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General - Environment - Iron and Etruscan Age - Roman Age - Patron Saint- The Commune - Alma mater studiorum - Re Enzo - Porticoes - St Peter - Gothic - 14th Century - Piazza Maggiore - Aristocratic palaces - Brick and other stones - Early 15th Century - Archiginnasio - Counter Reformation Renaissance - 16th Century - Great portico ribbons - Frescoes in palaces - The "scenographic" city -  Napoleon's republics - Fall of Church power - The Restoration - Haussmann style - The new Century - Floreal style - Rationalism - World War - Active preservation - Around 2000