Cento
The town of Cento is a small capital of art, cuisine and economy and also the point in which Ferrarese, Bolognese and Modenese traditions have blended harmoniously. Part of the dominion of the Bishop of Bologna from the 12th century, it was ceded to the Este family by Pope Alexander VI as part of negotiations for the marriage of his daughter Lucrezia Borgia to Alfonso d’Este. Evidence of the liberty enjoyed by the townsfolk is the institution of the Partecipanza, a system of land sharing, which came into being in the Middle Ages and still exists today.
One of the ancient traditions of Cento is the Carnival, now an international appointment.