THE DISCOVERY OF FERRARA, RENAISSANCE CAPITAL OF THE ESTENSE DUCHY, UNESCO SITE FOR ITS CITY CENTRE BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED
Classic Tour through Medieval Ferrara (3 hours)
Castello Estense – Piazza del Municipio with Palazzo Ducale Estense –Cattedrale S. Giorgio – Piazza Trento e Trieste Museo della Cattedrale – Via Mazzini and the Jewish Ghetto – Via delle Volte
Two souls vibrate in the city of Ferrara: a medieval one in the south and the other Renaissance in the north, converging in the Castello Estense. Let’s start by Viale Cavour-Corso Giovecca, road axis that represents an ideal bridge between Middle Ages and Renaissance; we are going to reach the ancient city walls by coach, so that we’ll find out that Ferrara is one of the few Italian cities still walled up, surrounded by as many as 9 km of defensive walls with green paths, viable on foot or by bike!
Then we will start our guided walk beginning from the mighty Castello Estense, a symbol of the city’s history and power of the Este family, the Lords who have ruled Ferrara for over 300 years making it as a capital for culture and artistic achievements.
The Castle was built in 1385 by military architect Bartolino da Novara for Marquis Niccolò II d’Este, following a bloody revolt of the people that subsided only after having torn to shreds the tax collector Tommaso da Tortona.
The Castle was the fortress which had to protect life of Este but also a beautiful noble mansion for parties and banquets, especially during the period of their splendor, the 16th century. We walk around the perimeter of the castle, still surrounded by a large moat and protected by drawbridges. We enter the courtyard of the castle where cannonballs and other weapons are collected.
Then we will pass to Piazza Savonarola, in which the statue of Ferrara monk Savonarola, condemned and burned for heresy, recalls his dramatic story.
In front of us, it shows itself, magnificent, the façade of St. George Cathedral, all decorated with stone reliefs as a lace, full of statues, with its monsters and griffins at the front door. Beautiful is also the long side of the cathedral on Piazza Trento e Trieste (once the market square); the portico nowadays houses shops while in the Middle Ages it housed stalls of merchants; Here is worth stopping to admire the Loggia of Merchants and the white-pink bell tower designed by humanist architect Leon Battista Alberti. On the opposite side of the Cathedral is another symbol of political power, the Estense Ducal Palace, now called Palazzo Municipale as it houses the municipal offices.
Then we enter Piazza Municipale, the ancient Ducal Court, where 
famous Estense theater shows were held. The adjacent Volto del Cavallo “Arch of the Horse” gets its name from the bronze statue of Marquis Niccolò III on horseback on top of a marble column and at the opposite side is instead the bronze statue of Duke Borso d’Este seated on his throne. In this square we can admire an elegant Venetian-style staircase, leading to the main floor of the Town-hall, where once were found the apartments of Duchess Lucrezia Borgia, wife of Alfonso I d’Este and where the distinguished guest Federico of Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino died.
From the charming Piazza Trento and Trieste we continue down Via San Romano, where the picturesque cloister of the former Church of San Romano seems luring us to enter the Cathedral Museum. This surprising museum offers the beautiful sculptures of “Master of the Months” from the destroyed cathedral “Door of the Months”, and even the Panels of Cathedral Organ, a masterpiece by the Officina Ferrarese Master Cosmé Tura, and also the sublime statue of “Our Lady of Pomegranate” by sculptor Jacopo della Quercia, early XVth century.
Later we reach Via Mazzini, the main street of the ancient Jewish Ghetto of Ferrara and heart of pedestrian shopping area. To conclude the trip, we continue going towards Via Delle Volte, suggestive and evocative cobbled street, with its characteristic arches of connection.
In Middle Ages it was a dangerous and notorious road, skirting very close to the ancient bed of the river Po, later went away from the heart of the city.
Ferrara Renaissance Route
Corso Ercole I – Palazzo Diamanti – Quadrivio degli Angeli – Palazzo Massari – Piazza Ariostea – Certosa di S. Cristoforo
If you wish to extend your visit to the whole day, we may complete the route continuing on foot in the famous district of “Addizione Erculea”. Commissioned by Duke Ercole I, at the end of the XVth century, it’s the very first European example of integral development plan that has earned Ferrara’s inclusion in the Unesco List since 1995. Here the most famous building is Palazzo dei Diamanti with 8.500 ashlar stone diamond shaped blocks. This palace was always designed by court architect Biagio Rossetti. From Quadrivio Degli Angeli, the focus of this district once named “New Air”, we arrive to Piazza Ariostea, where the ellipsis is dominated by the statue of court poet Ludovico Ariosto. Here every year by the end of May, the Palio of St. George takes place; it’s perhaps the oldest horse race in Italy, dating back to 1259. Not far away is the resting site of the Monumental Certosa of San Cristoforo, beautiful religious complex of the XVth century, commissioned by Duke Borso d’Este.
Remeber Italian Tickets Are Free!
Every 1st Sunday of month you can take advantage of the opportunity to visit Italian National Museums offering free admission. You can choose among
- Castello Estense
- Palazzo Schifanoia, residence of leisure and entertainment of Duke Borso d’Este with its famous frescoes in the Zodiac Room, main reception hall;
- Palazzina Marfisa d’Este, humanist and patron daughter of the Dukes of Ferrara, who lived in this elegant mansion full of its original furniture and beautiful garden with Renaissance loggia;
or:
- Pinacoteca Nazionale of Palazzo dei Diamanti, with a stunning gallery of works by famous Officina Ferrarese Master Cosmé Tura, Ercole de Roberti and Francesco del Cossa, mannerist paintings by Dosso Dossi, Garofalo, etc …
- Casa Romei, built by merchant Giovanni Romei about at the half of the XVth century, and decorated on occasion of his marriage to Polyxena d’Este. The open loggia courtyard in late gothic style, the Hall of the Sibyls and Prophets, and the “Studiolo” represent a unique well preserved ferrarese dwelling
