Palazzo Pio in Carpi is an imposing and complex structure that comprises fortifications, towers, courtyards, and buildings constructed between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Palazzo looks out onto Piazza dei Martiri, one of Italy’s most beautiful piazzas, to breathtaking effect. Starting in 1300 and for most of the following two centuries, Palazzo Pio was the residence of the Pio family. The Pio Prince Alberto III, nephew of the famous Pico della Mirandola, transformed the fortress into a splendid Renaissance palace whose rooms were decorated with frescoes by court painters. Today, the town of Carpi has adapted the palazzo for use as a world-class cultural center that houses the Palazzo Pio Museum; the Municipal Museum; the Castello dei Ragazzi, a children’s art and recreation center; and the fascinating Museum and Monument to Political and Racial Deportees. Passing through historical eras as you walk through the museums’ exhibition rooms and explore the palace are sure to stimulate both reflection and wonder.
