Castello di Brandola, located in the municipality of Polinago in the Appennino Modenese, is not your typical castle with a moat and drawbridge. Instead, it reveals itself today as a charming and evocative medieval fortified village, perfectly nestled among the chestnut forests of Frignano. Although the main fortress was destroyed during 13th-century conflicts, the urban layout preserves its medieval atmosphere intact: The first written records of Brandola date back to the year 1001. Established as a defensive stronghold for the Da Gomola family (of Longobard origin), it became an important Ghibelline center in the 1200s. It later passed under the control of the powerful Montecuccoli family in 1300, and subsequently the Pio di Carpi and the Estensi. Local Curiosities: The "Bagni di Brandola" Not far from the castle, hidden in the woods, lies an ancient sulfur water spring. Accidentally discovered in 1448 when it was noticed healing livestock from an epidemic, this curative water became famous among the physicians of the time (including Gabriele Falloppia). Some historians believe it was the first mineral water in Italy to be bottled, marketed... and even counterfeited!
