Ferrara

<< Emilia-Romagna

Ferrara is a city in Emilia-Romagna located near the river Po, and it is noted for its rich history and culture, and the many beautiful Renaissance palaces that adorn its city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not much is known about the early history of Ferrara, which emerged during the Middle Ages becoming a free commune in the 12th century. Soon afterwards, the powerful Este family came to rule the city, expanding their domain and fighting numerous wars against powerful neighbors such as the Republic of Venice. Ferrara lived its golden age as the capital of its own independent duchy between 1471 and 1597. Many of the most remarkable historic buildings of Ferrara date from this period, including the Erculean Addition, an expansion of the city regarded as a great example of Renaissance urban planning. Ferrara was later ruled by the Papal States, entering a period of decline, and shared the history of the rest of region until today, joining Italy during the unification of the country.

✪ Castello Estense

The Castello Estense is a large 14th-century castle surrounded by a moat in the center of Ferrara, and the most recognizable landmark in the city. Initially built as a defensive position, it later became the residence of the Este family which ruled over the city. The fortress is very well preserved and features four large towers. The castle now mostly serves as a museum and its internal halls are rich with frescoes and decorations, also hosting several artworks.

✪ Palazzo dei Diamanti

Located at the center of the Erculean Addition, Palazzo dei Diamanti (“Palace of the Diamonds”) is the most remarkable building erected during the 15th-century expansion of Ferrara, and a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture. It is famous for the thousands of marble blocks shaped like diamonds that adorn its external walls, while inside it houses an art gallery. The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Ferrara is hosted in the palace and it includes a large amount of artworks by artists that were active in the city during the rule of the Este family. The lower floor of the palace is used to host temporary art exhibitions.

✪ Ferrara Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Giorgio

The large Ferrara Cathedral is a richly decorated medieval church standing in the center of the city. It was built starting in the 12th century, but it was later remodeled. The white marble facade blends the Romanesque and Gothic styles and is adorned with a many elaborate statues, bas-reliefs, and arcades. The interior of the church is also decorated, hosting various frescoes and artworks. On the other side of Piazza Trento e Trieste, the former Church of San Romano houses the Museum of the Cathedral (Museo della Cattedrale), which hosts various works of art from the Cathedral, spanning several centuries.

✪ National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara

The National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Ferrara) is hosted in the historic Palazzo Costabili, built during the Renaissance and featuring various frescoed halls. The museum houses a large amount of archaeological findings from the ancient Etruscan city of Spina, near the modern Comacchio. The collection also includes many amphorae and vases of Greek origin, along with many pieces of etruscan jewelry.

Palazzo Municipale

Palazzo Municipale is the city hall of Ferrara and located in front of the Cathedral. It was built during the 13th century and was expanded during the Renaissance. The palace was originally the residence of the Este family, which later moved to the city’s castle. Palazzo Municipale includes a decorated courtyard and features various halls adorned with frescoes.

Teatro Comunale

The Teatro Comunale is the main theater of Ferrara, located just in front of the Castello Estense. It was erected at the end of the 18th century and it houses an auditorium with elaborate decorations. However, the theater is mostly famous for the Rotonda Foschini, a small oval-shaped courtyard inside the building.

Palazzo Schifanoia

Palazzo Schifanoia is a large Renaissance palace in Ferrara hosting an art museum. Built as one of the many residences of the Este family, it includes a garden and features many halls adorned with frescoes. The most remarkable of these is the cycle of the Salone dei Mesi, painted by members of the School of Ferrara in the 15th century. A nearby deconsecrated church hosts the Museo Lapidario, a collection of ancient funerary monuments and steles, which can be visited with the same ticket as Palazzo Schifanoia.

Church of Santa Maria in Vado

The Church of Santa Maria in Vado was built during the Renaissance over a previous religious site. The older church became an object of pilgrimage after a supposed miracle in 1171, in which blood apparently gushed from the consecrated host. The site was then restored with the construction of the current building, which is adorned with numerous frescoes.

Basilica of San Giorgio Fuori le Mura

The Basilica of San Giorgio Fuori le Mura (“outside the walls”) is the oldest church in Ferrara, located outside the ancient city walls. It was erected around the 7th century, when the bishopric was moved here from Voghenza, a nearby town that was destroyed by barbarian invasions. The small settlement around this church eventually developed into the modern city of Ferrara. The basilica was heavily reworked in Renaissance and Baroque style, gaining its current appearance. The interior is richly decorated with elaborate frescoes.

Palazzo Massari

Palazzo Massari is a 16th-century palace in Ferrara hosting three different museums. The Museo Giovanni Boldini and the Museo d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Filippo de Pisis are dedicated to the two artists from which they take their names, while the Museo dell’Ottocento houses artworks from the 19th century. The palace was damaged after an earthquake in 2012 and it has been closed for renovations ever since. However, the adjacent Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea is open, and it hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.

Civic Museum of Natural History of Ferrara

The Civic Museum of Natural History (Museo Civico di Storia Naturale) hosts a varied collection that covers various fields of the natural sciences. A large portion of the exhibition includes numerous zoological specimens, but there are also interesting selections of fossils and minerals.

Casa Romei

Casa Romei is a Renaissance palace in Ferrara, erected during the 15th century. It includes various richly frescoed halls and it hosts a museum with many medieval and Renaissance artworks from other historic buildings in the city. The palace also houses several pieces of its original furniture.

Ferrara Charterhouse

The Ferrara Charterhouse (Certosa di Ferrara) is a former Carthusian monastery that occupies a large area of the northeastern part of the city. Built during the Renaissance and suppressed in the 19th century, it features a monumental cemetery. Not far from there is the ancient Jewish Cemetery of Ferrara, on Via delle Vigne.

Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah

The Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah (Museo Nazionale dell’Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah) is a museum dedicated to the history of Jews in Italy. The rich exhibition displays many documents and artworks showcasing Jewish history from the Roman age until today.

Walls of Ferrara

Various sections of the ancient medieval walls of Ferrara still surround the city to this day. The area of the walls is now a park, which includes several bastions. The only surviving gates are Porta degli Angeli to the north and Porta Paola to the south.