Piazza Cavour, dominated by the Pennello
tower, marks the southern edge of the small medieval town, surrounded
on all sides by via Castelvecchio. Palazzo Boncompagni,
on the side opposite the castle, contains a famous oval spiral
staircase, with free-standing structure, traditionally the work
of J. Barozzi, the locally born architect. Via Garibaldi
is the heart of Vignola's attractive centre, and leads to the
public clock tower, a modification of the rampart which used to
protect access to the castle. Three streets, via Soli, running
between the medieval walls and an arcade, via Bonesi, the only
street with arcades and both sides, and via Barozzi, closest to
the castle, lead off from via Garibaldi with its elegant shops.
This is the real Vignola, but as it is sealed off from the busy
traffic of the via Vignolese surprisingly few people even know
it is there.
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