Ludovico Ariosto

Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533) is the famous author of the poem Orlando Furioso.
The son of Niccolò Ariosto, a garrison commander in the service of the House of Este, and Daria Malaguzzi Valeri, a noblewoman from Reggio Emilia, he spent his childhood here, savouring the life of the city that he would carry in his heart, even during his years at the Ferrara court.

His birthplace still retains the poet’s aura, even though the exact house where he was born remains a fascinating mystery.

According to sources, three different houses lay claim to this honour: one linked to his mother’s family, the Malaguzzi Vareri, situated between the town square and the ancient streets of the centre; one that belonged to his father, Nicolò Ariosto, in the Palazzo del Capitano della Cittadella; and finally the house of his grandmother Taddea Valeri, where his mother is said to have gone to receive assistance during childbirth.

Just outside the city, the Renaissance villa Il Mauriziano, surrounded by an elegant park, still evokes the carefree days of the poet’s childhood and adolescence.

Although he became a leading figure at the Este court in Ferrara and a master of Renaissance literature, Ariosto never forgot his Reggio Emilia roots.