Palazzo Ronzani
Palazzo Ronzani stands in a very central location, between the busy Via Rizzoli and Piazza Re Enzo. Built in 1914 by architects Gualtiero Pontoni and Ettore Lambertini, the palace boasts an angular façade and a mix of different styles, such as the Art Deco iron canopy built in 1921 by Umberto Costanzini over a former tram stop.
The era in which Palazzo Ronzani was built was characterised by major upheavals in urban planning, culminating in the extension of Via Rizzoli and the demolition of several medieval towers, as well as the redesigning of the old Mercato di Mezzo. The area where Palazzo Ronzani stands today was once occupied by some of the shops of the Mercato di Mezzo and its narrow alleys, which gave way to elegant buildings such as the palace itself.
The Modernissimo Cinema and other uses of the palace
Commissioned by the Ronzani family, active in beer production, the palace has had various uses over time. The best known is undoubtedly that of the
Cinema Modernissimo, built in the basement of the palace immediately after its inauguration. Closed in 2007, the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna is currently working at its reopening, which will bring the Modernissimo back to its former glory.
At the moment, Palazzo Ronzani is occupied by a few businesses. The ground floor of the cinema is home to a clothing chain, while a little further on is a historic jewellery store. Finally, the portico facing Piazza re Enzo is known as the
'cretins corner', because it was here that idlers once loved to spend their days, often in admiration of the girls walking under the arches.
