The castle
It was Guido Gonzaga, son of Feltrino the founder of the Gonzaga’s of Novellara in 1385. Around the beginning of the 16th century a series of operations began which slowly transformed the fortress into a Renaissance castle. The first court theatre was created on the west side of the castle in 1567, it was decorated by Lelio Orsi who decorated many other rooms.

The gonzaga museum
Various rooms in the museum still have the original coffered ceilings and decorations painted by Lelio Orsi and his student, Orazio Perucci. The museum houses valuable objects such as parts of a Romanesque-Byzantine fresco (13th century), a series of frescoes by Lelio Orsi taken from the “Casino di Sopra” (16th century), various paintings from the Emilian School, and a collection of vases from the Jesuit Pharmacy.

When you can visit the museum
The museum and the “sala dei vasi” are open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Free entrance.
It’s possible to book tour guides, at the Museum and the Castle, for groups (min 10 persons) calling in the morning to the 0522.655426.
The tour guide costs € 4.00 each one.
For information: Ufficio Cultura Tel. 0522-655426
E-mail: e.ghidini@comune.novellara.re.it

THE ANTIQUE MARKET
For many years, the antique market at Novellara has been held every first Sunday of the month, except in August, under the porticoes on 16th- century Piazza Maggiore.