History
A treasure trove of Art and Beauty
The 15th-century Palazzo delle Biscie stands as a testament to its storied past. With its austere architecture, the palace hints at its original purpose as a military outpost, complete with a watchtower that once overlooked the navigable canal leading to Bologna. On July 25, 1467, the nearby lands witnessed the "Great Battle of Molinella and Riccardina," where Bartolomeo Colleoni led the Venetian forces against Federico da Montefeltro and his allies. After the conflict, Colleoni found refuge within these walls. In the years that followed, the building was converted into a mill, harnessing the waters of the Canalazzo, sourced from the Idice River. The palace became a vital checkpoint through the marshlands en route to the Duchy of Este, known for its toll collection.
The estate later passed into the hands of the Malvezzi Campeggi family, who transformed it into a hunting lodge. Eventually, it was acquired by a man named "Busciene," and it is believed that the name "Biscie" originated from his name. However, local legend offers a more colorful tale: one May day, a writhing mass of water snakes met the blades of the mill wheel, scattering in all directions—an event that led to the building being known as Palazzo delle Biscie. A more plausible explanation is that the name came from the battle cry of the Sforza armies during the Battle of Molinella: "Biscie! Biscie!".
Art
Where Beauty meets Art
In 1998, entrepreneur and artist Sergio Frascari acquired the Palazzo and began a meticulous restoration process, reviving both the historic building and its surrounding two hectares of parkland, featuring ancient trees, serene water features, and thoughtfully curated art paths. Frascari, merging his background as a chemist with his artistic passion, restored the Palazzo to its former glory. He transformed the tower—a symbol of vigilance and ascension from earth to sky—into his personal atelier. Here, he creates paintings that bridge the past and present, honoring the rich history of the Palazzo through a contemporary lens.
Frascari’s unique approach, rooted in his scientific expertise and artistic training at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, allows him to personally craft the pigments and paints he uses, mastering their properties to achieve exceptional brightness, transparency, and durability. His works, characterized by their depth and dynamic interplay of light, feature sophisticated textures and unique chromatic effects. Within the historic walls of Palazzo delle Biscie, these artworks take on a profound significance, forming a bridge between the timeless beauty of the architecture, the harmony of the natural surroundings, and the vibrant expression of contemporary visual art.
