Back to Bologna – Day 2 – Part 4 – The House of Cervantes and Other Historic Sites

You will find the Caserma Enrico Cialdini, or the Enrico Cialdini Barracks, on Via Urbana, #8.  The building dates from 1486, when it was the seat of the Cinobio delle Clarisse di Santa Caterina de’ Vigri.  The space was taken over by Napoleon’s army from 1812 through 1816, who used it as barracks.  In 1866, it became property of the Italian military and, during World War II, it was used as a shelter for displaced citizens.  Today, it is the headquarters of the Emilia Romagna Army Military Command.

At Via Manzoni, #2, you will find the Palazzo Fava.  Dating back to the Renaissance, the palace was home to the Fava family.  Today, it hosts exhibitions and special events.

The Casa de Cervantes houses both, the Spanish Library and the Italian-Ibero-American Comparative Law Institute.  Construction was finished on the building in 1932, incorporating remains of older structures, as a result of efforts by the rector Manuel Carrasco y Reyes, to establish a base in the city for those whose first language was Spanish, as well as providing a library representing the Hispanic American culture.  The structure remained closed for the duration of the Spanish Civil War, opening its doors only for the disabled Spanish soldiers, who were being treated at the nearby Rizzoli Hospital.  During World War II, it functioned as a hospital for the Italian wounded.

A plaque on the facade of Palazzo Zabban, on Via Saragozza, pays tribute to the author Enrico Panzacchi, who lived in the palace.

 

Next up: We finish up our second day in Bologna with a bit more sightseeing, and then, some fun after dark!

 

Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Bologna, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!

 

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