The 12 things to do in Ferrare

Are you going on vacation in Italy? Visit Ferrarara, one of the most beautiful cities in Emilia-Romagna and its 12 must-sees.

Visiting Ferrara is a city of art and culture, a Renaissance home. During your visit, you will discover a modern city that has kept the remains of its past. Ferrarara knew his time of glory thanks to the house of Este which transformed the former rural city into a real architectural masterpiece.

Today, the city is listed in the Heritage of Humanity. So if you want to explore one of the most beautiful Italian cities, discover the must-see in Ferrara. Wanderlix prepared his guide.

1. Castle Estense

Impossible to visit Ferrara without passing through the castle Estense. A true symbol of the city, the fortress represents one of the most important seigneuries in Europe. This is where the main historical events of Ferrara derogated.

On foot since 1385 by the Dukes of Este, this construction was designed to protect the family from popular revolts. Progressively, this unbelievable manor turned into an absolutely magnificent palace making many cravings in the courtyard.

Today, the castle is visited and admired both outside and inside. You will be impressed by its imposing stature overlooking the city. By entering the palace aisles, admire the many frescoes that adorn the walls and discover the history of the house of Este and the whole city.

2. Saint-Georges Cathedral

What to do in Ferrare to discover his beliefs? The largest religious building in the city, the cathedral is not to be missed. The church is dedicated to the protector of the city, Saint-Georges. Built in the 12th century, its façade, mixing Romanesque and Gothic styles, presents similarities with that of Parma or Modena.

All in white marble, you will observe arcades, rosaces, bas-reliefs and statues. On the right side, a representation of Alberte d’Este stands, and on the left side, we observe Pope Clement VIII. Inside, the style is rather baroque and you will discover the statues of Niccolò Baroncelli, Domenico di Paris and Saint-Laurent du Guerchin.

Watch out, the cathedral doors close at 3:00. It would be a shame to miss this visit to Ferrare.

3. Piazza Trento e Trieste

To continue your visit to Ferrara, direction the south of the Cathedral to reach Place Trento e Trieste (formerly Piazza delle Erbe). In the form of a rectangle, the square is crossed by a long sidewalk of 120 meters. All around, the ancient palaces and the places of power stand before you.

Some are identical when others have experienced some restructurings, such as the Raison Palace or the Victoire Tower. In the north, many shops adorn the square. It is an opportunity to buy souvenirs of your stay in Ferrare. For the past two centuries, this place has been dedicated to the market, mainly fruit and vegetables, but also tourism products.

In winter, this is where the Christmas market stalls are exposed.

4. The Jewish ghetto

Visiting Ferrara and her culture is going to meet the Jewish community. For a very long time, the house of Este welcomed the Jews excluded from their country of origin (Spanish, Portuguese or German). Several religions then lived in all kindness. In 1627, the papal government decided to end this tradition by creating the Jewish ghetto.

Today, the Jewish quarter extends between Via Mazzini, Vignatagliata and Vittoria. During your stay, don’t hesitate to visit the synagogues that present on their facades epigraphs recalling the horrors of the Second World War. Visit the German Temple which houses solemn ceremonies and explore the Palazzo Modena, the cemetery or the Jewish Museum.

The houses of this ghetto are easily recognizable with their wrought iron balcony.

5. La Via delle Volte

Come and visit Ferrara by crossing one of the oldest streets; via delle volte. As early as the 12th century, this street was the center of commercial activities that developed through a unique architecture. Many arches crossed the street by linking the houses of the merchants located to the south, to their northern depot.

In addition to being practical for the merchants, these arches allowed to gain space in an almost overcrowded neighbourhood. Still today, some vaults remain giving the via delle steals its peculiar aspect.

6. The Palazzo Schifanoia

Renaissance Palace, Palazzo Schifanoia is a must in Ferrare. Built by the house of Este, this building is now famous for hosting the frescoes of Francesco del Cossa and Cosmè Tura in its Sala dei Mesi. Originally, the Palazzo Schifanoia served as a hobby for the Este family.

In 1471 Borso d’Este, having received the title Duke of Ferrare, made this palace its main residence. He allowed to enlarge the monument and bring it all its splendor. Thanks to the work carried out, each detail of the palace is remarkable: the portal is framed by Corinthian pilasters, the ceilings are decorated with stucco and the reception room is decorated with many frescoes representing humanity and nature.

Today, the west wing of the building houses the Ferrare Civic Museum.

7. A bike ride on the ramparts

What to do in Ferrare as a sporting activity? In addition to being a very cultural city, Ferrare is also the “city of the bike”. Here, cyclists walk through the streets of the city and around them. If you want to discover Ferrara by pedalling, you better choose an exceptional route. It is therefore on the ramparts that you will have to go.

All around the historic centre, these ramparts offer you the opportunity of a nine-kilometre bike ride without interruption. And if you want to get away a bit, don’t hesitate to go to the plain of Pô that is full of exceptional landscapes.

8. The cappellacci to the pumpkin

Ferrare is a historic city until its gastronomy. Come visit Ferrare and discover its traditional dishes. Among the best known are cappellacci with pumpkin. These are raviolis whose recipe dates back to the time of the house of Este. This excellent food offers a mixture of sweet/salted thanks to the pumpkin stuffing.

In addition to having an exquisite taste, cappellacci with pumpkin also have an original shape, since they look like hats. You can only succumb to these gustative wonders.

9. Les festivals de Ferrare

Ferrara is a historic and tourist city. To satisfy everyone, the city organizes a series of events throughout the year.

Festival des Montgolfières

Come and visit Ferrara in April and attend a unique show. Every year, Italian and European teams compete to present the most beautiful hot air balloons. Thousands of colors invade the sky for the happiness of your eyes. It’s time to get your camera out to capture these colored images.

The event takes place in the city’s urban park and covers over 250,000 m2.

Ferrarara sotto

On the place of the castle, Italian and international musicians take place to put the atmosphere in Ferrara. All musical styles are represented to satisfy the tastes of each.

This is one of the most well-known festivals in the country where many Italians travel to attend. If you have the chance to visit Ferrare in the summer, don't miss this event and plunge into contemporary local culture.

Festivale internazionale

For lovers of debates and information meetings, visit Ferrare and its Internazionale festival. On this occasion, many journalists and writers come to discover Ferrara in order to confront their ideas with other experts in various themes.

You can also learn new things through the many workshops and projections that are organized.

Buskers Festival

The Buskers Festival, a street festival of excellence, welcomes hundreds of artists from all over the world every year to discover their passion for music. Ferrarara, a city of culture, offers the ideal setting for this eclectic event.

10. Tasting of toasts in the oldest

Dating from at least the year 1435, the restaurant “Al Brindisi” is considered the oldest winery in the world. During its history, the restaurant has welcomed many characters such as Tiziano Vecellio, Nicolò Copernico, Torquato Tasso or Ludovico Ariosto.

The inhabitants of the city, like the tourists, enjoy "Al Brindisi" which offers both delicious dishes, but above all a wide variety of wines.

11. The Palazzo dei Diamanti

The Palazzo dei Diamanti is definitely one of the things to do in Ferrare. From the outside, you will not be able to pass next to this building covered by more than 8,000 bugs of white and pink marble. In diamond shapes, these stone blocks gave their name to the Palace.

Inside, the museum welcomes temporary exhibitions of great wealth: Gauguin , Chardin, Mirò or Picasso. The greatest European artists have passed through the walls of this palace.

12. Archaeological Museum

The monuments to visit in Ferrare are so many that it is difficult to make a complete list. During your stay, we recommend exploring the archaeological museum of the city. It allows you to make a leap in the past, and more precisely at the time of Spina who experienced his hour of glory between the III and the VIth century.

This Etruscan city was completely buried under the mud for several hundred years. It was only in the 20th century that archaeological excavations revived the light on the very distant past of the depths of Ferrara. Today, objects and tools are presented to you, allowing you to discover an ancient and modern civilization.

How do I get to Ferrare?

The easiest way to get to Ferrara is to get around by car . You can discover the city and its surroundings.

However, if you are not vehiculated, you have the choice between the train and the aircraft . In general, to get to Emilia-Romagna, Bologna Airport is the most convenient. To get the best prices, according to your criteria, do not hesitate to compare flights on Skyscanner . Finally, bus also enable mobility between different cities.

Where to sleep in Ferrare?

If you want to visit Ferrara, you better sleep on site to have a chance to see everything. Between the different neighborhoods of the city you will have the choice between hostels, hotels and apartments in Airbnb. As the city is not very large, the choice of the neighborhood is not so important. Nevertheless, the historic centre is obviously the best choice, given its central position. Do not hesitate to use a Compare hotels for accommodation in Ferrare to find the offers adapted to your budget.

Also, it may be interesting to stay in one Airbnb , in order to live the experience as a local, to rise to bed. You see!

Here we are at the end of the article. You have everything in your hands to visit Ferrara!