Ferrara: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

The historic center of Ferrara is a village nestled in the city, a Renaissance jewel rich in history and art, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . The vestiges of the Este family can be found in the same Estense Castle, in the same structure of the city and in the prestigious buildings. A town to visit by pedaling and tasting its culinary delicacies, of which the most traditional is certainly the eel. A day in Ferrara to catapult into the Renaissance at the Este court. A few kilometers away the Comacchio Valleys offer the possibility of excursions between history and nature, while at the Lidi Ferraresi it is possible to enjoy 25km of beaches, both in the Po Delta Park. Here is everything you need to know for your visit to Ferrara.

What to see in Ferrara

1 – Estense Castle
Photo by Nicola Bisi. The Estense or San Michele Castle(because the first stone was laid on the day of the saint, who is the protector of gates and fortresses) it was wanted by Niccolo II d’Este, to equip the city with a defense building. Over time it has become the home of the Este family, who have enriched the interiors with sumptuous frescoes and marbles that decorate the noble floors. The castle stands imposing in the city, surrounded by a water-filled moat, drawbridges and four towers. A dip into another era among the ancient kitchens and prisons on the ground floor, and on the main floor, in the splendidly frescoed reception halls. Do not miss to look out in the Loggia degli Aranci for a look over the city, but also from the Torre dei Leoni . Boat tours of the moat are also possible.

• How to get there: Largo Castello 1. It is 20min. walk from the Central Station or 10min. by bus (lines 1/6/7/9/11, Cavour-Giardini stop). Get directions
• Hours: from 1 March to 30 September open every day from 9:30 to 17:30 (from 1 October to 30 April closed on Mondays). Moat boat tour only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. In the months of March, April, October 10: 00-13: 00 and 14: 00-17: 00. From May to September 10: 00-13: 00 and 15: 00-18: 00.
• Ticket price: Full € 8.00 Reduced € 6.00. Tower of the Lions supplement € 2.00. Boat tour of the moat Full € 3.50 Reduced € 2.50.

2 – The Cathedral of San Giorgio Martire and Piazza Trento and Trieste
The Cathedral of San Giorgio Martire with its white marble facade adorned with Romanesque columns and Gothic arches, was begun in 1135 and brings with it the various styles that have evolved over time followed. A unique set of its kind. The complex also includes the Renaissance bell tower in white and pink marble built by Leon Battista Alberti. In the square of the cathedral there is also the sixteenth-century Clock Tower . On the long side of the cathedral, in what is Piazza Trento e Trieste (once Piazza delle Erbe) is the Loggia dei Merciaiwhere trade took place since the Middle Ages. Valuable buildings overlook what was the oldest part of the city.

• How to get there: Pedestrian area, Cathedral Square. It is 20min. walk from the station or 10min. by bus (lines 1 and 9, C.so Giovecca – Teatini stop). Get directions
• Hours: 7: 30-11: 00/16: 00: 19.00. Saturday : 7: 30-12: 00/15: 00-19: 00. Sunday : 7: 30-13: 00/15: 30-20: 00.
• Ticket cost: free

3 – Palazzo del Municipio
A few steps from Piazza della Cattedrale we also find the Municipal Palace , which from the Middle Ages had its function of Palazzo Ducale as the residence of the Este family until the fifteenth century. The current external facade is a neo-medieval reconstruction from the 1920s, to which the Victory Tower has been added. Original pieces can be found in the Volto del Cavallo , the large arch that serves as the entrance to the municipal square. The internal courtyard is flanked by a Renaissance loggia and there is a wonderful monumental staircase which leads to the noble floors of the building. To visit the Camerino delle Duchesse , designed for the women of the family with splendid decorations and theSala dell’Arengo , frescoed by Achille Funi between 1934 and 1938.

• How to get there: Pedestrian area, Piazza Municipale 2. It is 20min. walk from the station or 10min. by bus (line 3 stop Teatro Comunale). Get directions
• Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 – 13:00; Tuesday and Thursday also 15:00 – 17:00 (closed on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays). Visits on request limited to the Sala dell’Arengo and the Stanzino delle Duchesse.
• Ticket cost: free

4 – The Addizione Erculea and the Quadrilatero degli Angeli
Addizione Erculea is the urban reconstruction that involved Ferrara between the end of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth century, with the aim of both improving the city defenses and expanding it with the construction of a new area. habitable and more modern than the medieval core, called “Arianuova”. The intersection of Corso Ercole I d’Este (the financier of the project) with Corso Biagio Rossetti (the court architect in charge of the project) and Corso Porta a Mare is called Quadrivio degli Angeli and presents three Renaissance palaces of significant interest and value . The Palazzo dei Diamanti seat of the National Art Gallery,which houses universities and museums, and the Palazzo Prosperi-Sacrati currently closed pending a restoration that will reopen it to the public.

• How to get there: 20min. walk from the Central Station or 10min. by bus (line 3, Palazzo dei Diamanti stop). Get directions
• Hours: the area is public and always accessible, with the exception of entrances to the palaces: Palazzo dei Diamanti open every day 9: 00-19: 00, including Easter, Easter Monday, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June. Extraordinary night openings are planned; Palazzo Turchi di Bagno and Palazzo Prosperi-Sacrati are not open to the public.
• Ticket price: Palazzo dei Diamanti Full € 13.00 Reduced € 11.00.

5 – Palazzo dei Diamanti
The Palazzo dei Diamanti is a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance , so called for its characteristic rusticated external facade (a style of masonry), which recalls rows of faceted diamond points. The white marble cladding with pink veins reflects the sunlight and creates a perspective play of light and shadow. Located on Corso Ercole I d’Este, it houses the National Picture Gallery with works from the 13th to the 18th century by painters from Ferrara and high-level temporary exhibitions . The interior is made up of the typical structure of the Ferrara Renaissance palaces with a loggia around the courtyard and a marble well in the center.

• How to get there: 20min. walk from the Central Station or 10min. by bus (line 3, Palazzo dei Diamanti stop). Get directions
• Hours: Open every day 9: 00-19: 00 (including Easter, Easter Monday, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June). Extraordinary night openings are planned.
• Ticket price: Full € 13.00 Reduced € 11.00.

6 – Via delle Volte
Medieval heart of the city, this rectilinear road grew along what was the original embankment of the Po ‘, then diverted in 1152. It takes its name from the numerous suspended passages that cross it and that connected the artisan shops to the warehouses present. along the river that was navigable at the time. At night it changed its fame, and as reported by local writers, it was also known as the street of brothels. Walking through this alley, with its cobblestones of river stones, the red bricks of the buildings, seems to be back in the Middle Ages. Today it is dotted with local cuisine where you can taste local delicacies .

• How to get there: Pedestrian area. It is 25min. walk from the Central Station or 15min. by bus (line 3, Corso Porta Reno stop). Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free
• Card, ticket and recommended tour: Ferrara: private walk with a local guide

7 – Palazzo Schifanoia
Another example of the wealth of the Este family left to posterity is the Palazzo Schifanoia, so called for being the place used for entertainment, to “avoid boredom”. Built several times between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, since 1989 it has housed the Civic Museums of Ancient Art which collect rich collections from the same period. The Salone dei Mesi is an important cycle of frescoes representing precisely the months of the year, a collective work of various 15th-century Ferrarese artists. Gone disappeared, it emerged “as if by magic” in 1820 from subsequent whitewashing. We only got the months from March to September.

• How to get there: Via Scandiana, 23. It takes 35 minutes on foot. from the station or by bus (lines 1 and 9, Giovecca-Ospedale stop). Accessible by car (street parking only, nearby) .Get directions
• Hours: Not available. The museum has been closed to the public since January 2018 for anti-seismic compliance works.
• Ticket cost: Not available. The museum has been closed to the public since January 2018 for anti-seismic compliance works.

8 – National Archaeological Museum and Palazzo Costabili
The National Archaeological Museum was established in the 1920s after the casual but sensational discovery of the Etruscan necropolis of Spina , narrated in the writings of Greeks and Romans but of which no traces had ever been found. More than 4000 burials and related funeral objects, gold and silver artifacts, fine workmanship that testify to the greatness of the Etruscan city and the connections it had throughout the Mediterranean were found. The need to find a worthy location for the thousands of artifacts found found a place in Palazzo Costabili, which in turn was removed from the decay that oppressed it after years of neglect. The Hall of Geographical Maps, the Treasure Room and the Renaissance garden are noteworthy.

• How to get there: Dista 35min. at piadi from the station or 20min. by bus (line 2, Museo Archeologico stop). Get directions
• Hours: From Tuesday to Sunday 9: 30-17: 00. Closed on Mondays, January 1st, December 25th.
• Ticket cost: Full € 6.00; reduced € 3.00

9 – Palazzina Marfisa d’Este
The Palazzina Marfisa d’Este is a 16th century palace in typical Ferrara Renaissance style, where the Duchess lived until her death. Its ceilings are a triumph of frescoes, friezes and grotesques (recovered from neglect in the last century) of the best schools and artisan shops in the city. The palace is now a house-museum, seat of the Civic Museums of Ancient Art of Ferrara, where an exhibition itinerary crosses eight different environments (the Red Room or of the Enterprises, the Loggetta dei Portatti, the Phaeton Room, the Banqueting Room, the Studiolo, the Fireplace Room, the Great Room and the Cabinet Room) and ends with the garden, the Loggia degli Aranci and the cave. A few minutes walk nearby we also find Palazzo Bonacossi which houses collections of the Civic Museums of Ancient Art and the Casa Romei Museum which houses admirable Renaissance works.

• How to get there: Corso Giovecca, 170. It is 30min. at piadi from the station or 20min. by bus (line 1 or 9, Giovecca Ospedale stop.) Get directions
• Hours: 9: 30-13.00 / 15: 00-18: 00 Closed on Monday. Annual closing days: 1st and 6th January, Easter, 1st November, 25th and 26th December
• Ticket cost: full € 4.00; reduced € 2.00

10 – Comacchio, the Valleys and the Lidi Ferraresi
Comacchio is an ancient lagoon village that enchants for its quiet and tranquility about 50min / 50km drive from Ferrara. Located in the Comacchio Valleys of the same name (actually there are 4 “valleys”, marshy lagoon areas) of the Po Delta Regional Park, one of the largest wetlands in Italy. In addition to delighting in the town in front of the Cathedral of San Cassiano, Palazzo Bellini and the characteristic Manifattura dei Marinati, do not miss a tour in the canals on the small batanas (typical boats) passing under the famous Treponti. It is also possible to rent bicycles and get lost in the peace of the valleys and at the end enjoy a tasting of local delicacies. A few kilometers away the Lidi Ferraresi extend for about 25km, wide beaches of clear sand and calm sea open onto the Adriatic.

• How to get there: by car from FerraraRA8 towards Comacchio. Get directions
• Timetables: always accessible, warm season is recommended.
• Ticket cost: based on the activities.

Ferrara itinerary in one day

1. Breakfast at the L’Emporio della Piazza café (Piazza della Repubblica, 27/29 – Get directions)
2. Visit to the Estense Castle
3. Visit to the Cathedral of San Giorgio Martire and Piazza Trento e Trieste
4. Walk in Via delle Volte
5. Lunch at Trattoria da Noemi based on Ferrara specialties (Via Ragno, 31 – Get directions)
6. Walk along Corso Ercole I d’Este, visit Quadrivio degli Angeli and Palazzo dei Diamanti (closing at 19:00)
7. Walk to the Palazzina Marfisa d’Este (9: 30-13.00 / 15: 00-18: 00 Closed Monday; full € 4.00; reduced € 2.00)
8. Dinner at I Tri Scalin restaurant and after dinner in the Darsena area. (Via Darsena, 50 – Get directions)

Where to eat in Ferrara

• Trattoria da Noemi : the Ferrara tradition in the kitchen, cured meats, fresh stuffed pasta, boiled meat.
  Average price per person: € 30.00 / 35.00
  Address and contacts: Via ragno, 31 Get directions / tel: 0532 769070
• I Tri Scalin Restaurant: another restaurant of Este excellence, try the salamina da sugo al spoon con pure.
  Average price per person: € 25.00 / 30.00
  Address and contacts: Via Darsena Get directions / tel: 0532 761670
• Cucina Bacilieri : gourmet restaurant with a very high choice of raw materials. Try the tasting menu. Average price per person: € 45.00 / 60.00 Address and contacts: Via Terranuova, 60 Get directions / tel: 0532 243206
• Cusina e Butega : large restaurant with deli counter offering meat and fish dishes with excellent raw materials. Average price per person: € 20.00 / 25.00 Address and contacts: Corso Porta Reno, 28 Get directions / tel: 0532 209174
• Il Sorpasso : Creative dishes and Ferrara specialties, generous portions and excellent service. Average price per person: € 30.00 / 35.00 Address and contacts: Via Saraceno, 118 Get directions / tel: 0532 790289

What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and best clubs
The most popular area in the evening is certainly Piazza Duomo, very fascinating under the night lighting and the neighboring streets that come alive with university students (especially on Wednesdays).

• Sebastian Pub : a brewery-pizzeria set up inside an old fishing motorbike. Giant pizzas and hamburgers the specialties / Address: via Darsena, 53 Get directions / Sebastian Pub facebook page
• Giardini del Florens : one of the best cocktail bars in the city / Address: Via Poledrelli, 1 / f Get directions
• Giardini Sonori : large disco with national DJs / Address: Via Della Ricostruzione, 95 Get directions / Giardini Sonori facebook page
• Circolo BlackStar : live music events, excellent cocktails and selection of beers / Address: Via Ravenna, 104 Get directions / BlackStar facebook page
• Jazz Club : ideal place for jazz lovers and not only that offers live music evenings and excellent cocktails / Address: Rampari di Belfiore, 167 Get directions / Jazz Club facebook page

Plan your stay in Ferrara: info and useful tips

• How to get there: By train: it is not served by High Speed ​​but you can arrive with a Regional from Bologna or with Italo. By car: from Milan highway A1 + A13 exit Ferrara Nord (about 3 hours / 260km), from Venice highway A13 exit Ferrara Nord, from Rome highway A1 + A13 exit Ferrara Sud (about 4 hours and 30min / 420km).
• How to get around : Ferrara is a walking distance city, but above all it can be pedaled! It is possible to rent bicycles for € 7.00 / 9.00 per day.
• Where to park : Ferrara has numerous parking spaces that can also be booked online. Two free 24h parking areas are the Ex MOF in Via Darsena (Get directions) or in Via del Lavoro (Get directions). Paid parking spaces closer to the center both on the street and covered.
• Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 52.00 per room – see the offers
• What to see in the surrounding area : Comacchio (50km / 50min), Bologna (50km / 50min), Mantua (90km / 1h40min), Padua (70km / 1h)