Location: Ferrara
Top Things to do in Ferrara
What to do and see in Ferrara, Italy: The Best Places and Tips
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. Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 262 reviews
Reviewed By NullnFull - Poznan, Poland
In front of this monastery, there is a real treat: a cherry tree that flowers in spring time. It is covered with hundreds and thousands of pink little flowers and looks fantastic! The monastery itself is really interesting. You'll find there a tomb of the Saint Beatrice d'Este, the benedictine nun. It still is a home for the contemplative female order: the Benedictines.
2. Centro Storico Ferrara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By LightFighter - Lafayette, California
My wife and I love to walk on vacation and Ferrara is the perfect destination. We did a day trip to Ferrara from Bologna - quick and easy on the train. A beautiful, historic city center with a castle, magnificent Cathedrale and a wide variety of ancient curving lanes to explore. Fascinating!
3. Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 441 reviews
Reviewed By RHAHJ - Nijmegen, The Netherlands
If you compare this museum to other archeological museums, it has a lot of special stuff to offer. While most such museums will show stone and bronze tools from the corresponding ages, and maybe a few items utensils from medieval times, this museum has four superb collections: First there is a collection of items from Spina, a Greek trading post in/near Ferrara. Items from a burned down house were recovered; Second, there are two Roman boats; Third, there is a nice style room, the Loggia; and Fourth, there is an upper store with a fine Map room, which has maps painted on its walls. Here there are also many items (mainly Greek, I think) on display. Although I was very pleased with what I saw, I was a little disappointed that there seemed to be more rooms which were closed to the public.
4. Le Mura di Ferrara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 981 reviews
Reviewed By NomadicTraveller7 - Fuerteventura
We walked round most of the walls missing about one fifth of the possible distance. While we really enjoyed the walk and the exercise , the views were a bit disappointing and uninteresting. The different types of trees were interesting, however we did not need shade on an unseasonably cold mid October day with a cold wind blowing.
5. Museo di Casa Romei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 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 1953 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 Romeo an unforgettable experience of a greater interest.
Reviewed By gianlorenzo - norfolk
This is a most interesting and beautiful historic building close to the Cathedral and Monastery of Corpus Domini and should be on everyone's list of places to visit in Ferrara. Beautifully laid out with clear explanations in every room, there is much to learn about the history of the city. Excellent.
6. Castello Estense
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Ticket office closes 45 minutes before.
Reviewed By Stenvoid - Twickenham, United Kingdom
We visited Ferrara on a short break flying in to Bologna, and wanting to experience somewhere a little different. This town is beautiful and the Castle is incredible- so little known to the majority of travellers but literally oozing with history. You can wander or have a more interactive experience. Very impressive.
7. Via delle Volte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 756 reviews
Reviewed By Patricia G - Worcester, United Kingdom
Highly atmospheric. This shaded, narrow, medieval street, with its vaulted buildings over-arching the cobbled thoroughfare has retained the character of the era in which it was constructed. Between the wars, it was the city's red light district. But it now boasts only houses, and a few restaurants serving excellent food
8. Parco Massari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By Zurich71 - Rehovot, Israel
We were impressed by the park especially because of the huge trees next to the main gate. It is a well-designed park although its level of upkeep at least in the month of march was not impeccable. Never seen such a grandeur at a park entrance. The heavy branches are well-supported and yu the effort to maintain the trees by all means.
9. Palazzo dei Diamanti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 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 ladyladymarian - Parma, Italy
I suggest you to visit this exposition about the universe of one of the greatest writer of the Renaissance, Ludovico Ariosto (he wrote his poem, "Orlando furioso", in 1516 at the Este's court in Ferrara). This exposition is about what he was thinking trough his imagination: battles, tournaments, knights, medieval romances... Here you can find the masterpieces of the greatest artists of the time—from Mantegna to Leonardo, from Raphael to Michelangelo to Titian—in addition to ancient and Renaissance sculptures, engravings, tapestries, weapons, books, and artefacts of extraordinary beauty and value. It's really worth of visit! And I suggest you to take a guide: I went yesterday and my guide was an old professor, very cultured (his name is Giuseppe). But remember that this exposition will be closed on January.
10. Basilica Cattedrale di San Giorgio Martire
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 660 reviews
Reviewed By PandyPandora
This imposing church in the main square is currently undergoing renovation so the façade is not visible. You can still visit the interior although ceilings are part obscured by shrouds. As with many of the churches we visited in the Emilia-Romagna region, the interior is ornately decorated.
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