In February of 1522 poet Ludovico Ariosto was sent to Castelnuovo Garfagnana by Duke Alfonso d'Este with the difficult nomination of Governor of the Garfagnana, recently annexed to the Duchy of Este of Ferrara. And in this inhospitable region, inhabited by a population proud and indomitable, he spent three years, showing enormous political and practical skills, but always regretting his city, his wife, his beloved studies.
La Rocca, where he lived, overlooking the main square of the country and that in this period is the subject of a major work by the Municipality restoration, still carries now his name. And these places remember him today, under the auspices of the National Committee for the V Centenary of the publication of his masterpiece, chaired by Lina Bolzoni, with a series of events that will continue throughout the year.
Last defensive stronghold of the Duchy of Ferrara, built between the years 70 and 80 of the sixteenth century to guard the border with the neighboring lands of Lucca, the Montalfonso fortress host the exhibition of Antonio Possenti. The artist from Lucca, who in his work has always been in conversation with the characters and places of literature, will present for the occasion an unprecedented gallery of Ariosto characters, drawn from her own personal reading Orlando Furioso: from Orlando to Angelica, by Rinaldo in Sacripante, Astolfo, Marfisa, Gradasso, inserting in the list even the robber Moro, great antagonist of the 'governor' Ariosto in Garfagnana of the first '500.
The critical text in the catalog is edited by the Superintendent of Lucca and Massa Carrara Luigi Ficacci. During the exhibition are planned events, theme dinners, readings and book presentations.
FURIOUSO 2016 – Elsewhere and other places. Opportunities and suggestions from the Orlando Furioso.
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana Montalfonso fortress
2016 July 16, 31 agosto
hours: 9:00 /
free entry