Ferrara, found by students and volunteers remains of the ancient Este delizia destroyed by fire in the 17th century

Three weeks after the start of the work students from Ariosto and Roiti high schools and volunteers from the Ferrarese Archaeological Group adhering to the participatory archaeology project Che Delizia Belfiore!, conceived and directed by the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara, with the support of the Municipality, which has invested 37,500 euros for this purpose, the remains of the Este delizia of Belfiore have been found. The latter was destroyed by a fire in 1632 and was originally located in the current area, of about one and a half hectares, northwest of the last stretch of Corso Ercole I d’Este.

As Dr. Chiara Guarnieri, of the Soprintendenza, explains, having removed the first levels of levelling layers, dating back to times after the destruction of the delizia, the first remains of the lost Este monumental residence have already emerged in the excavation essay further north of the area. Bricks left blackened by the flames nearly four centuries ago are noted. In addition to them, portions of columns, arches, and floors, all made of brick, have been found. And also a fragment of a fresco that could be dated to the 15th century, but subsequent investigations will reveal this precisely, and ceramics that can be traced to the mid-15th century. News also on the topographic side, as Guarnieri points out: the directions and intersections of the walls in fact correspond to the reconstruction made through ancient maps and also confirm some of the data that had emerged from the preliminary georadar and magnetometer prospections carried out this summer by aninternational team of archaeologists and technicians. The team of archaeologists working in the area is led by Flavia Amato and Maurizio Molinari.

“It is as if, through the archaeological survey, we were already inside the building destroyed by the flames. This is an amazing result because in a short time it has already allowed us to enter the remains of the delight. We are still two weeks away from the end of the first excavation campaign, we expect more news. And we are already organizing the next phase, which will involve washing the unearthed materials, signatures, drawings, classifications. The protagonists will be, once again, the students who, thanks to this project, will be able to learn the basics of archaeology, in all its phases,” Guarnieri continued.

Mayor Alan Fabbri also expresses satisfaction with the results already achieved: “A great team effort, coordinated by highly competent professionals with a lot of passion. We are happy that the students and volunteers are the protagonists of these discoveries. Ferrara rediscovers its past, and adds important elements to the great puzzle of knowledge, through the activity of the students, of the citizens: this is the charm and the extraordinary potential of this initiative, in which we have believed and which is accompanied by a communication project, to spread the results of the excavations to everyone. Thanks to those who are making this possible.”

Also participating in Che Delizia Belfiore! are the Province of Ferrara, which is granting the authorizations for the excavations on its own land and its patronage, and the Ferrara Pianura Reclamation Consortium, which has built the fencing of the area.

Pictured are brick fragments blackened by the fire of 1632.

Ferrara, found by students and volunteers remains of the ancient Este delizia destroyed by fire in the 17th century

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