A few words about Ferrara

Ferrara is situated in the valley of the river Po in Northern Italy, south of Padua and Venice and north of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is convenient for a day tour from each of these three cities.

It is not known for certain when Ferrara was founded. It was first mentioned in a 8th-century document as part of the Ravenna Exarchate. From the beginning of the 13th to the end of the 16th century, Ferrara was ruled by the Este family who were responsible for the construction of many of the monuments we admire today. They were also patrons of art, literature and music, and artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian and Raphael, as well as Petrarch and Antoine Brumel enjoyed their support. Alfonso I (1486-1534) is worth mentioning not only because he commissioned a series of works to Titian but also as the third husband of the notorious Lucrezia Borgia. The House of Este came to an end in 1598, and Ferrara was enlisted among Papal states, saw Austrian occupation in the 19th century, and finally became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Ferrara is a charming and peaceful town, small enough to be explored on foot. Bikes are immensely popular. The town is so packed with architectural monuments that it was put on the UNESCO list of world heritage.

The city walls built in the late 15th - early 16th century are more than 9 km long, with walking paths on top. Many hotels offer rented bikes for a tour of the walls. The peaceful countryside with the nearby Po river are also an attraction for bikers.

The Castello Estense is an imposing defensive structure with a moat, a functioning drawbridge and towers. It was connected by a covered passageway to today's Palazzo Municipale. Built initially as a fortress and later transformed into a luxury residence, it contains terraces, balconies and a Renaissance courtyard. The Hall of Games has an interesting mural depicting different sports. The dungeons are also open to visitors. You can climb to the top of the Lion's Tower which offers a beautiful panoramic view to the whole city.

The 12th-century San Giorgio Cathedral, dedicated to Ferrara's patron saint, combines elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture: the lower part of the façade is Romanesque, and the upper part is Gothic. The legend goes that the female head over the right portal represents the city's founder, a "Madonna Ferrara". Although unfinished, the pink-and-white marble bell-tower in Renaissance style is a fine piece of architecture. Inside the cathedral, you can see beautiful bronze sculptures.

A number of elegant albeit rather small Renaissance palaces are also responsible for Ferrara's architectural splendor. The Palazzo dei Diamanti, called so because of the shape into which the marble plates on the facing were cut, today houses the National Picture Gallery and a Gallery of Modern Art. Palazzo Schifanoia, built as a "palace of pleasures" for the Este family, was adorned by interesting allegorical frescoes representing the months and the zodiac signs. Unfortunately, they were greatly damaged while the building was used as a tobacco warehouse, and could not be restored completely. The building is now home of collections of antiques and coins. Casa Romei with its beautiful arcaded galleries was built in the 15th c. and was the home of Giovanni Romei, a trusted friend of Duke Borso d'Este.

The University of Ferrara was founded in 1391. It has a library containing precious manuscripts. Among its illustrious students through the ages were the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and the renowned astrologer, alchemist and physician Paracelsus, praised as the "father of toxicology".