Palazzo Re Enzo Palace

Address: Piazza del Nettuno / Piazza Maggiore, 40124 Bologna, Italy

Palazzo Re Enzo is a historic civic palace located in Bologna’s central square, adjacent to the Fountain of Neptune. The building dates to the 13th century and is associated with municipal government and the medieval imprisonment of King Enzo.

The palace presents large medieval civic rooms and an external arcade that opens onto Piazza del Nettuno and the main city square; interior spaces are used for exhibitions and cultural events. The building’s façade and tower remain prominent features of Bologna’s historic centre and are often included on walking tours of the city.

Constructed in the 13th century as part of Bologna’s civic complex, the palace became the place where King Enzo was imprisoned after his capture in 1249, an event that gave the building its popular name. Over centuries the palace continued to serve municipal functions and has been adapted for exhibition and cultural use.

The palace stands in central Bologna in Emilia-Romagna, directly overlooking Piazza del Nettuno and close to the city’s cathedral and other historic municipal buildings.

• King Enzo imprisonment: Named after King Enzo of Sardinia who was held captive there from 1249 until his death in 1272.
• Current use: Today the building is used for cultural events, exhibitions and municipal functions in Bologna’s historic centre.

What to See#

• Great hall and civic rooms: A large hall and civic spaces that sit above the medieval market arcades, historically used for municipal administration and public assemblies.
• Arcade and tower: Tower and ground-floor arcade facing Piazza del Nettuno, connecting the palace visually and physically to Bologna’s main civic square.

Palazzo Re Enzo sits on Piazza Maggiore in Bologna’s historic centre. From Bologna Centrale you can walk into the medieval quarter along Via dell’Indipendenza to Piazza Maggiore (about a 10-20 minute walk), or take a short taxi/bus ride into the city centre; the palace faces the square and is immediately accessible on foot from surrounding streets.

• Visit Palazzo Re Enzo late afternoon when guided-tour groups thin out to enjoy the palace's interior spaces and temporary exhibitions with fewer people around Piazza Maggiore.
• Enter directly from Piazza Maggiore and, if available, buy combined tickets for nearby civic museums so you can see related historical displays without returning later-a lot of visitors only photograph the exterior.