Editing Modena (section)

===Ducal Palace===

[[File:Palazzo Ducale Estense di Modena.jpg|thumb|center|800px|[[Palazzo Ducale of Modena]], June 2015]]
[[File:Palazzo Comunale - Modena.jpg|thumb|Palazzo Comunale, Modena town hall]]
[[File:Modena Cathedral facade.jpg|thumb|Façade of the [[Duomo di Modena]], or Cathedral of [[Santa Maria Assunta]] and [[Saint Geminianus]]]]
[[File:Modena-duomo02.jpg|thumb|Interior of the cathedral]]

The [[Ducal Palace of Modena]], initiated by [[Francesco I d'Este]] in 1634 and completed by [[Francis V, Duke of Modena|Francis V]], was the seat of the Este court from the 17th to 19th century. The palace occupies the site of the former Este Castle, once located in the periphery of the city. Although generally credited to [[Bartolomeo Avanzini]], it has been suggested that advice and guidance in the design process had been sought from the contemporary luminaries, [[Pietro da Cortona|Cortona]], [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini|Bernini]], and [[Francesco Borromini|Borromini]].

The Palace currently houses the [[Accademia Militare di Modena]], the Military Museum and a precious library.

The Palace has a Baroque façade, from which the Honour Court (where the military ceremonies are held) and the Honour Staircase can be accessed. The Central Hall has a frescoed ceiling with the 17th-century ''Incoronation of Bradamante'' by [[Marco Antonio Franceschini]]. The ''Salottino d'Oro'' ("Golden Hall"), covered with gilted removable panels, was used by Duke Francis III as his main cabinet of work.