Ferrara is an Italian city with an exceptionally rich artistic and urban tradition. This place, brimming with top-class monuments, boasts a rarity – the Palazzo dei Diamanti. The Palazzo dei Diamanti is one of the world’s most recognisable masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. The striking edifice has stood on Corso Ercole I d’Este for more than five hundred years and is the focal point of the so-called Addizione Erculea, an innovative city expansion project from the late 15th century.
Origins and authorship of the project
The founder of the Palazzo dei Diamanti was Sigismondo I d’Este, brother of Duke Ercole I. In 1492, he commissioned Biagi Rossetti to create a family seat that would express power and innovative urban ideas. Construction of the edifice began in 1493 and lasted a decade. The authorship of the project is commonly attributed to Rossetti, but there is still disagreement among architectural scholars on this point. They also point to various inspirations, from Bevilacqua’s Palazzo Sanuti in Bologna to the Neapolitan part of the Gesù Nuovo church, but none of the hypotheses have been confirmed. In the second half of the 16th century, Galasso Alghisi (also known as Galeazzo da Carpi) made changes to the palace façade, placing a corner balcony, redesigning the shape of the windows and refreshing the cornice crowning the whole.
The d’Este residence and its transformation
Almost until the end of the 16th century, the palace remained in the hands of the d’Este family. From 1586, Cesare d’Este and his wife, Virginia de’ Medici, lived here. Three representative salons decorated with coffered ceilings and rich frescoes by Giulio Belloni were specially prepared for the princess. The Palazzo dei Diamanti then passed into the hands of the Marquis Guido I Villa. The new landlord refreshed the entrance portal, adding moulded bands and striking candelabras. In 1842, the building was bought by the local government of Ferrara, with the aim of creating a municipal gallery and the seat of the Ateneo Civico University. A century later, dark times came for many Italian cities. The massive bombardments of the Second World War did not spare Ferrara either. Bombs fell on local churches, bridges and townhouses, and in 1944 damaged part of the walls of the Diamond Palace and the works of art it housed. A thorough restoration of the cursory edifice was only carried out after the 2012 earthquake.
Architecture and stonework details of the Palazzo dei Diamanti
The most distinctive and characteristic element of the palazzo is its rusticated facades. Arranged in rows of sharply cut marble fragments, they resemble diamond cuts, whence the residence took its name. The nearly 8,500 blocks are arranged to catch the light at different angles. Some face the ground, others centrally and others upwards, which, depending on the time of day, produces spectacular lighting effects. The authorship of the corner candelabra and floral ornaments is attributed to Gabriel Frisoni of Mantua. The details at the balcony, on the other hand, were made by the Ferran sculptor Gaetano Davia. Inside the palace, however, an intimate courtyard with a cloister and marble well was designed. This is a well-known layout, used in many of Ferrara’s Renaissance residences.
Cultural heritage of the Palazzo dei Diamanti
For hundreds of years, the Palazzo dei Diamanti has remained an iconic symbol of the architectural daring and imagination of Renaissance architects. Its irregular form, the richness of its textures and the magical play of light on its façade catch the eye of every passer-by. Gallery exhibitions and cultural events enliven the interiors of the monument, which continues to inspire artists around the world.
Source: inferrara.it, ferraraterraecqua.it
Also read: Architecture | Facade | History | Palace | Italy
