Palazzo Re Enzo (King Enzo Palace), Bologna
The King Enzo Palace (accessible only during exhibitions), sporting its current Gothic makeover from the 1905 renovation, carries the legacy of its namesake, Enzo, the "King of Sardinia", son of Emperor Frederick II. After a less-than-stellar performance at the Battle of Fossalta in 1249, Enzo found himself locked up here for 23 years until his demise in 1272. Legend has it that by day, he strolled freely through the palace halls, but come nightfall, he was left dangling in a cage from the ceiling. And yes, there's even a spicy tale of Enzo's romantic escapades, with whispers of illegitimate offspring and clandestine love affairs. Apparently, his supposed son, Bentivoglio, sprouted from a liaison with a peasant woman, thus sowing the seeds for the Bentivoglio dynasty that ruled Bologna later on.
Adjacent to this historic hotspot, in the lively square bearing his name, stands the Fountain of Neptune ("Fontana del Nettuno"), crafted by Giambologna in 1556. Born Jean Boulogne in Flanders, this sculptor found his creative groove in Florence; however, it was his aquatic masterpiece in Bologna that truly made waves. Featuring a colossal Neptune (dubbed 'Il Gigante'), flanked by cherubs and four voluptuous sirens astride dolphins spouting water from, well, unconventional sources, this fountain was a cheeky thumbing of the nose at papal sensibilities. Initially causing quite the uproar with its nudity, the statue was later deemed too hot for censorship, much to the delight of the locals who relish in pointing out the most strategic viewpoints for admiring Neptune's, ahem, imposing stature.
Adjacent to this historic hotspot, in the lively square bearing his name, stands the Fountain of Neptune ("Fontana del Nettuno"), crafted by Giambologna in 1556. Born Jean Boulogne in Flanders, this sculptor found his creative groove in Florence; however, it was his aquatic masterpiece in Bologna that truly made waves. Featuring a colossal Neptune (dubbed 'Il Gigante'), flanked by cherubs and four voluptuous sirens astride dolphins spouting water from, well, unconventional sources, this fountain was a cheeky thumbing of the nose at papal sensibilities. Initially causing quite the uproar with its nudity, the statue was later deemed too hot for censorship, much to the delight of the locals who relish in pointing out the most strategic viewpoints for admiring Neptune's, ahem, imposing stature.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bologna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Palazzo Re Enzo (King Enzo Palace) on Map
Sight Name: Palazzo Re Enzo (King Enzo Palace)
Sight Location: Bologna, Italy (See walking tours in Bologna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bologna, Italy (See walking tours in Bologna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bologna, Italy
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Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles