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Palazzo Re Enzo is located in Bologna’s historical city centre

In 1200, Bologna’s municipality expropriated several buildings to create Piazza Maggiore and erected the first complex of palaces destined specifically for public administrative purposes – Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo di Re Enzo and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo.

Palazzo Re Enzo, also known as ‘Palazzo Nuovo’ (New Palace) to distinguish it from Palazzo del Podestà , was built between 1244 and 1246 (at the same time as Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo) as an extension of the other municipal buildings.

Just three years later, it became the ‘residence’ of the King captured during the Battle of Fossalta and was named after him – King Enzo of Sardinia, son of Emperor Frederick II. He lived in the building for twenty-three years until his death in 1272. His figure inspired many legends in popular literature.