Corso Ercole is a prime example of urban development during the Renaissance. When Duke Ercole d’Este set out to strengthen the city and transform it into a European-style capital, he expanded its boundaries northward and laid out this beautiful main road. To this day, the street retains its historical character thanks to its cobblestone paving and the façades of important Renaissance palaces, which once belonged to noble families and feature grand entrance gates and decorative windows. The intersection known as Quadrivio degli Angeli marks the central point of the street and represents the synthesis of Rossetti’s urban design. The old Viale degli Angeli became Corso Ercole I d’Este, which is now partly closed to pedestrian traffic.