Ferrara is the capital city of the Province of Ferrara and it’s located on the Po di Volano, branch channel of the Po River. Because of its beauty and importance, the city has been declared a World Heritage Site, by UNESCO. The city is famous for its many castles dating from the 14th and 15th century, but that’s not the only thing that brings tourists to the area.
The city is surrounded by 9 km of ancient walls, the best preserved Renaissance walls in Italy, along with the walls of Lucca. You won’t regret taking a walk along the “Le Mura di Ferrara”, the sights are stunningly beautiful.
Ferrara is a cultural and art centre and it is also the headquarter for the prestigious Italian Hermitage Museum, since 2006. The city was also home for the House of Este, the European princely dynasty, so the Castel Estense (or the House of Este) is definitely the main attraction of the city. Located in the centre of Ferrara, the medieval structure surrounded by a moat, looks just like most castles described in fairy tales.
Other Renaissance Palaces include the Palazzo dei Diamanti. The exterior is made of 8,500 white marble blocks, carved to represent diamonds. Their position varies in order to maximize the light reflected off the building, which makes the view of the building simply spectacular. The Palace is home for the Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art and for the National Art Gallery of Ferrara, with paintings from the Ferrara school from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century.
Another well preserved historical building of Ferrara is the Casa Romei, former residence of Giovanni Romei, related to Este family by marriage. Many of the original decorations from inside have been saved, along with several beautiful frescoes. The Palazzo Schifanoia is an important landmark as well. It’s name means “Palace of Joy” because it is said that its name comes from the motto “schivar la noia” which means “avoid the boredom”, so you can imagine that you will most likely have a good time once inside.
The Ferrara Cathedral, dedicated to Saint George, is the largest religious building in the city. The inside of the cathedral is as beautiful and stunning as the outside. The Sant’Antonio in Polesine (Monastero di Sant’Antonio in Polesine) is another place that deserves some attention. Other churches you can visit include the church of Santa Maria in Vado, the church of St. Benedict, the church of St. Francis and others. Ferrara has many churches, despite the fact that it’s a rather small city.
Of course, after taking such long walks, you should rest and try out the local cuisine. The main dishes go way back to the Middle Ages. The “cappellacci di zucca” is a Ferrara signature dish, the “pasticcio di maccheroni” (macaroni pie) is served as a first dish around here and for desert, just ask for a “panpepato”, especially if you’re here during Christmas season.
Ferrara may be small, but it’s definitely worth visiting. You won’t regret walking on this city’s streets!