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IFOAM General Assembly Location |
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 The IFOAM General Assembly will be host in the prestigious Fotress in Vignola (Province of Modena).
Situated at the foot of the Apennines, the "city" of Vignola has about twenty thousand inhabitants and rises on the left bank of the Panaro River.
Vignola retains important and attractive architectural features, such as the famous Rocca (Fortress), and has been the birthplace of illustrious historical figures, such as the architect Jacopo Barozzi (known as "il Vignola", 1507-1573), and the historian and man of letters Ludovico Antonio Muratori (1672-1750).
Vignola is famous for its agricultural production, especially its cherries and plums, as well as other local crops, such as apricots, apples and grapes and wine.
Historic centre of Vignola
 The city is dominated by the ancient and imposing fortress, which has angulated towers, a drawbridge, a large courtyard, numerous decorated rooms and a chapel with interesting late Gothic frescoes. In the Dark Ages the castle first belonged to the Abbey of Nonantola, then to the Bishops of Modena.
In the 13th century it was the subject of a long dispute with Bologna, and then passed from the Lordship of the Grassoni to that of the Estensi.
In 1401, Nicoḷ III d'Este gave the castle to Uguccione of the Contrari Lordship, which dominated Vignola for almost two centuries.
The marquisate was sold in 1577 to Pope Gregory XIII of the Boncompagni family, which retained it until 1796.
With the Restoration Vignola was subjected to the despotic government of Francesco IV d'Este.
Next to the castle there is the small oratory of St. Mary, with traces of frescoes on the ceiling and a 15th century gilt plaster cast providing a beautiful representation of the Madonna con bambino (Madonna and Child).
Opposite the Fortress there is the sixteenth-century Boncompagni Palace, consisting of a central element and two wings, with a masonry portal. Inside there is the famous snail by Barozzi and nineteenth-century frescoes.
Church of S. Maria Rotonda
First mentioned in 826 the church was completely rebuilt in 1491. It consists of two overlapping round elements in red brick, internally supported by eight arches.
Sanctuary of the Madonna della neve
Constructed on the site of one of the oldest Romanic parish churches in the area, in the 11th century it assumed its present-day appearance.
In the seventeenth century an oratory was constructed, dedicated to the Madonna and Child.
It was enlarged in 1782 and restored in the 1960s.
Source: Municipality of Modena - Official Tourist Information Site
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