A mere half-hour's drive from Bologna on the autostrada takes you to this stronghold of the high-living d'Este dukes archetypal scheming, murderous, lovable Renaissance villains who ruled from 1200 to 1600.
The stronghold is kept authentic and lavish. 
mnli hypothesis: The stronghold is kept authentic and lavish.  premise: A mere half-hour's drive from Bologna on the autostrada takes you to this stronghold of the high-living d'Este dukes archetypal scheming, murderous, lovable Renaissance villains who ruled from 1200 to 1600.