Location: Ferrara
Top Things to do in Ferrara
10 Things to do in Ferrara That You Shouldn't Miss
Ferrara ([ferˈraːra] listen (help·info); Emilian: Frara) is a town and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital of the Province of Ferrara. In 2016 it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated 44 kilometres (27 miles) northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km (3 miles) north. The town has broad streets and numerous palaces dating from the Renaissance, when it hosted the court of the House of Este. For its beauty and cultural importance, it has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Restaurants in Ferrara
1. Castello Estense
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,773 reviews
Ticket office closes 45 minutes before.
Reviewed By Stella_Krewleb - Ferrara, Italy
Very diverse aspects: the ancient building, the interesting history, the scary dungeon, the panoramic view from the tower, the amazing old paintings! There are a lot of rooms to admire. Worth a visit to explore the city and very nice for families. In christmas time (might be only a spwcific weekend) there is a reindeer sleigh in the inner courtyard and a lot of cute christmas decoration.
2. Palazzo dei Diamanti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,766 reviews
The Palazzo dei Diamanti is a venue belonging to the city of Ferrara where exhibitions of international importance are held, thereby contributing to the city’s reputation as a centre of art and culture. These exhibitions are organized jointly by Fondazione Ferrara Arte, Gallerie d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Ferrara and the Settore Attivita Culturali of the Comune di Ferrara.
Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy
My appreciation for the "Palazzo dei Diamanti" comes from three main reasons. Firstly this palace, with its diamond point bosses (hence the name), is to be considered one of the most beautiful of the Italian Renaissance. Secondly, it can even be considered a symbol of Ferrara, which from this point of view could even overstretch the Estense Castle. I try to justify my statement; and I will devote most of my review to this goal. The palace is suitable to symbolize Ferrara not only and not so much for its intrinsic beauty, but because it reveals the way that the architect Biagio Rossetti followed, between 1492 and 1505, to create the so-called "Addizione Erculea" . This is the name of the operation by which Rossetti (on behalf of Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara) in fact doubled the size of once medieval Ferrara, creating new city north of the existing one, and organizing it with a gridiron of streets. The similarity of this gridiron with the orthogonal plan cities created in the Hellenic world on the model of Hippodamus by Miletus, or with the cities founded or re-founded by the Romans, or finally with the "Terre Nuove" (new settlements; cities founded from scratch) spread throughout Europe in the second part of the Middle Ages, must not deceive: according to scholars (and in particular to the historian Bruno Zevi, 1918-2000), it's only in the case of Ferrara that the city sees the orthogonal plan organized regardless of the needs of immediate expansion; so that the inhabitants of sixteenth century Ferrara will call it not "Terra Nuova", but "Aria Nuova" (new air), to indicate that the new city consists precisely of air, and not of buildings. The gridiron exists, the buildings will then come. To safeguard the cornerstones of its urban creation, however, and to prevent them from being distorted in the future, Rossetti "blocks" some fundamental intersections and squares, immediately edifying a few but strategic buildings. One of these (and the most illustrious) is Palazzo dei Diamanti, which is therefore established as the cornerstone of what Zevi calls "the first operation of modern urban planning in Europe". The third reason for my appreciation stems from the quality of the artistic exhibitions that have been held in the building since many years. Right now, the exhibition of the painter Giuseppe De Nittis is in progress (and I have just visited it), an Italian who lived mainly in Paris. In past years, I have been able to admire the exhibitions on Joan Mirò (2008), on Joseph Turner and Italy (2008-2009), on Jean Simeon Chardin (2010-2011), on Francisco de Zurbaràn (2013-2014). They were all excellent exhibitions, which honored the city of Ferrara.
3. Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 514 reviews
The National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara is housed in the magnificent Palazzo Costabili (said of Ludovico il Moro), one of the most beautiful Renaissance palazzi of Ferrara by the great ferrarese architect Biagio Rossetti. The central courtyard, the loggias, the grand staircase, the wide rooms testifie to the life of a high rank ducal family, evidenced by the extraordinary frescoed ceiling by Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo, which portrays scenes of court life. The story of this exceptional building is linked to the fate of the ancient city of Spina, which begins to unfold in a sensational way at the time of the great land reclamation works in the first half of last century. The Palazzo became a casket for the treasures of the Etruscan city and displays the finds from the town of Spina and the rich grave goods from its necropolis: Etruscan bronzes, golden and amber jewels and wonderful Attic vases, decorated with mythical stories of gods and heroes and with scenes of daily life.
4. Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 337 reviews
Reviewed By SelbyDale - Saint Paul, United States
This 17th century Benedictine monastery is the home for a small group of nuns that tend the complex. When you enter the church you will be on the side where one sits for services. On the other side of the grill is the decorated chapels with the beautiful frescoes by the school of Giotto. To see these, you must leave the church and turn immediately to the left where you will see a door with a doorbell. Ring and ask to see the chapel. They will buzz the door, but you must push it open to enter. A nun will meet you, take you to the church and give you a brief tour in Italian of each of the decorated chapels. You will not have a lot of time in the church. After, you will be taken to the tomb of Beatrice d' Este in the area of the gift shop. Here for sale are the soaps and candles made by the nuns and a box where you can leave a donation. We timed our visit for the end of the day so that we could attend the daily 17:00 Vespers service in the outer chapel. To see the frescoes, you will need to arrive at the church at least a half hour before closing--any later and you will be turned away. Hours to view the frescoes: Monday to Friday: 9.30-11.30/ 15.15-17.00. Saturday: 9.30-11.30/ 15.15-16.30.
5. Museo di Casa Romei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 434 reviews
Casa Romei was built by the merchant Giovanni Romei around the mid fifteenth century, and constitutes a unique renaissance mansion in Ferrara. Original decorations from the age of its first owner, elegant courtyards, loggias, halls, make it an exceptional landmark inside the ancient city centre. During the time that the house formed part of the Monastery of Corpus Domini, the ceilings of the rooms on the first floor (XVI century), were decorated with elegant grotesques. Casa Romei became a veritable museum in 1955 and received collections of frescoes, statues and lapidaries from mostly destroyed ancient city churches and civil buildings. Therefore you can discover -inside its 15 rooms- witnesses from a forgotten town. The echoes of important artists, such as Donatello, Francesco Dal Cossa, Gregorio di Lorenzo, Bastianino, Alfonso Lombardi, make the visit inside Casa Romei an unforgettable experience of a greater interest.
6. Via delle Volte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 970 reviews
Reviewed By ginam781 - Portland, United States
At nighttime, this medieval alley street (part of the Ferrara's historic Jewish Ghetto) transforms from a quiet sidestreet with plenty of old arches (thus, the name) to a magical doorway back to another era. The streetlamps glow and, barring the lack of authentic raw sewage or rotting animal carcases, you could be in the Middle Ages. Most of the old town of Ferrara has been power-washed, steam cleaned and made pretty (which I still enjoyed)... not Via delle Volte; I felt as if I could still sense the thousands of difficult lives who lived in this claustrophobic neighborhood. It was one of my favorite experiences in a recent trip to Italy.
7. Ferrara Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 813 reviews
This place is temporarily closed. THE CATHEDRAL (INTERNAL VISIT) CLOSED FROM MARCH 4 2019 FOR WORKS. RE-OPENED RE-OPENING: SEPTEMBER 2019.
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
Beautiful Cathedral, dedicated to St. George. It is located in the historic center opposite the Palazzo Municipale (Town Hall). The sacredness, the majesty and the beauty of the decorations and the frescoes leaves us breathless. The cathedral of Ferrara dates from the 12th century and bears witness to the historical periods of the city. The outstanding facade, divided into three sections, was begun in Romanesque style, still visible in the lower part. The facade is rich in scenes from the New Testament above the central door, the work of the sculptor Nicholaus (1135). The upper part was built some decades later in a Gothic style and besides the numerous small arches and the splayed mullioned windows presents an extraordinary Last Judgment by an unknown sculptor over the central loggia. The imposing Renaissance campanile (Bell tower), in pink and white marble, is an unfinished work attributed to Leon Battista Alberti. The interior of the church is rich in murals, paintings and sculptures by renowned Renaissance masters such as Nicolò Baroncelli and Domenico di Paris (bronze statues of the Crucifixion and of Saints George and Maurilius), Guercino (splendid canvas of the Martyrdom of St Lawrence), Bastianino (grandiose Last Judgment). The interior of the cathedral was rebuilt in 1712 in Baroque style. During our visit it was under reconstruction, but it does not diminish the splendor of the Cathedral. It is possible to enter the Cathedral at certain times.
8. Le Mura di Ferrara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,128 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
The best thing we did in Ferrara was to hire bikes and ride around the outside of the medieval walls. You can also walk along the top of the walls but I'd recommend riding if you have the time. Built mostly between 1493 - 1505, there are 9 km of walls. When they built it, they pulled out all stops to protect the city and used every defensive technique available in the 1400s. You can still many of these defences - city gates, solid bastions, large towers, arrowslits and a patrol path along the top. Smaller semi-circular towers were built at intervals along the path for the sentries. The path is very safe and easy to follow. You ride entirely on shared bike/walking paths (not roads). For the most part, the paths are flat and even with loose gravel (see photos). You can build up a bit of speed if you want. There are no really hilly stretches although there are parts with slight inclines. It is all quite manageable and fun for kids. TIPS: • We hired the bikes from the Hotel Annunciata (Piazza Republica) but that’s only because we were nearby. There are several other places which may or may not be better value or have better bikes. This place had a number of regular bikes available. For half a day, we paid €7pp (€5 if you are a guest). • Take some ID or a passport because you might need to show it to hire a bike • We joined the bike path by riding across the main piazza and exiting via Corsa Porta Reno • Wear older clothes. Even on a sunny day, there were some muddy puddles (there were only a couple but somehow I didn't pre-think this and wore white pants which was not a good idea). • Take a water bottle - there wasn't anywhere to get water.
9. Centro Storico Ferrara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,122 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
We chose beautiful Ferrara for a day trip mainly because it was only around ½ an hour train trip from Bologna and it was very easy to walk between all the main historic sights. The entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was a perfect day-trip. Our two big highlights were hiring bikes and cycling around the medieval city walls and finishing the day with drinks and aperitivo at the world’s oldest wine bar, Enoteca Brindisi. TIPS: i) From the station it is a 20 minute walk to the historic centre. We walked straight down Corso Porte Po to the Estense Castle. ii) The castle is a very handy place to start your visit because the tourist information is also here. iii) Allow a full day. We arrived in Ferrara with about 6 hours to explore. This was enough time to look at the castle, stroll through the historic centre and the main piazzas, browse through the weekend market, stop for lunch at Balebuste in the Jewish ghetto, hire bikes and cycle the city walls and finish with aperitivo in the late afternoon. iv) The cathedral is currently being renovated and is covered with hoardings so you can’t see much or go inside. The pretty pink and white tower around the corner can still be seen v) Much of the historic centre is a pedestrian only zone so it is perfect for strolling through or hiring a bike and riding around vi) Don't miss Enoteca Brindisi which has been serving wine since 1400s
