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The Duke’s garden, which is also known as Duchess’s garden, was created between  1473 and 1481 for Ercole I d’Este in the wide courtyard of the castle, where used to be the stables, wood sheds and other service environments of the rich Este residence.
Anciently, the garden covered an area of about  3,000 mq and was characterised by paths made with squared stones and a well, box hedges (Buxus sempervirens) with varied geometric shapes, cypresses (Cupressus spp.), fruit trees and expanses of officinal plants, a rich variety of plants, bushes and trees which form spectacular green flats.
The paths’ disposition followed a regular cross scheme, which is still present today, at whose centre there is a sumptuous gold fountain. The space was enclosed by loggias.
Thanks to the recent interventions of Amministrazione Comunale, the garden has been opened, even though only partially, to citizens and tourists, who are enchanted by the evident signs of its former glory, such traces of great round arches and a 15^th century loggia, which decorated once the so calles “Cappella della Duchessa”.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)