Art and Culture

The first thing to know about Ferrara is that it owes its beauty to the Este family, the great dynasty that ruled the town for over 300 years.

The main sight is the sumptuous Castello Estense (Este castle), a typical example of medieval architecture, later adapted to meet the needs and more pleasure-oriented life of the Renaissance. It is one of the few Italian castles whose moats are still filled with water, and an ideal landmark when going around town, as it stands at the centre of the circle formed by the city walls. Many of its splendid rooms are open to the public; on the first floor there is also a bookshop with interesting books on the art and history of Ferrara.

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Other highlights are the 12th-century Cathedral with its superb Gothic Romanesque facade, and the palaces of the dukes of Este, starting with Palazzo dei Diamanti, dating from the 15th century. It is one of the finest buildings in Europe, named “Palace of the Diamonds” after the 8,000 diamond-shaped marble blocks on its facade. It's now home to an art gallery (Pinacoteca Nazionale) and a modern art gallery (Galleria d’Arte Moderna), where top-level international exhibitions are held twice a year.

The Palazzo Schifanoia was a delizia: a palace where the court enjoyed banquets and balls, and generally escaped from boredom (which is the literal translation of Schifanoia). The 16th-century Palazzina Marfisa d’Este is yet another example of the opulent lifestyle of the Este family. In the Renaissance, the Palazzo Municipale (town hall) also contained Este family apartments, that now house municipal offices and are not usually open to the public. It is possible, however, to visit the richly decorated Stanzino delle Duchesse (Duchesses’ Room) during opening hours.

You will find it at the top of the monumental 15th-century staircase in Piazza Comunale (through the arch right in front of the Cathedral). Few tourists venture into the labyrinth of the dark medieval alleys of the old town centre, unwittingly missing some of the most picturesque parts of town.

Try walking down the cobbled 2-kmlong Via delle Volte, full of arches, and turn into one of the romantic and quiet streets crossing it: Via Crocebianca, Via Centoversuri, Via Sacca, or Via Colomba. The latter leads to the pretty Piazza San Nicolò, a small, half-hidden, tree-lined square with an unconsecrated church (its huge apse was designed by Biagio Rossetti). There is also a garden, and a beautiful house with a facade framed in terracotta tiles nearby.

INFO

Castello Estense
Tel. +39 0532 299 233

Cattedrale
Tel. +39 0532 207 449

Palazzo Schifanoia
Tel. +39 0532 244 949

Pinacoteca Nazionale - Palazzo dei Diamanti
Tel. +39 0532 205 844

Palazzina Marfisa d'Este
Tel. +39 0532 244 949

IAT Ferrara
Tel. +39 0532 299 303 - 419 474
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