Location: Ferrara
Top Things to do in Ferrara
The 10 Best Points of Interest & Landmarks in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna
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. Palazzo della Racchetta
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
2. Ex Casa del Fascio
3. Palazzo di San Crispino
4. Chiesa Di San Matteo Del Soccorso
5. Monumento Ai Martiri Del Risorgimento, Succi, Malagutti, Parmeggiani
6. Palazzo Naselli-Crispi
7. Castel Nuovo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
8. 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
9. Piazza Cattedrale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 212 reviews
This property is temporarily closed.
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is the central piazza and is a paved, largely pedestrian zone so it is absolutely delightful to walk or cycle around. The main features are: • The Cathedral which normally takes centre-stage, was undergoing restoration when we were there in May and was under wraps so you couldn’t see anything of it from the front. The restoration work is expected to take a couple of years. • Opposite the cathedral is the Palazzo Municipale, which is also impressive. The large tower and crenelated roofline make it look much like a small castle. Built in 1245, it was originally the ducal residence of the powerful ruling Este family until they moved down the road to the castle in the 16th century. Apparently there is an elevated passageway linking the palazzo to the castle although I couldn't spot anything. The figure on horseback above the large archway is Niccolo III D’Este, looking very regal. His son Borso is just to the left, seated on top of the column. The archway leads through to the courtyard which you can wander around. • Along the side of the Cathedral, look out for the Merchants’ Loggia, a row of shops under ancient (and it has to be said somewhat wonky looking) wooden porticoes. Built right into the side of the cathedral, the shops have been here since medieval times. • From this side you can also see the pretty pink and white striped campanile tower • On weekends they often have a market here. We were there on a Saturday and there was a reasonably large market along the side of the cathedral with ceramics, trinket jewellery, souvenirs etc
