Castello Estense

The most important building in Ferrara is the Castello Estense, a square castle with 4 towers and a moat in the centre of the town. It was built in 1385 and restored in 1554.

The city itself is surrounded by a 9 kilometer long wall.

More Ferrara places of interest

Other Ferrara tourist attractions are the Palazzo del Municipio (the earlier residence of the Este family), the Cathedral of San Giorgio and many early Renaissance palaces with terracotta decorations as well as a 12th century Romanesque cathedral. The poet Ludovico Ariosto’s house with the room where he died can be seen on Via Ariosto 65 and there are also a synagogue and a Jewish Museum in what used to be part of Ferrara’s Jewish ghetto.

University of Ferrara

The university of Ferrara’s library contains manuscripts of a.o. Tasso’s Orlando Furioso. Copernicus graduated at the University of Ferrara, which also boasts a botanical garden.

Palazzo dei Diamanti and the National Picture Gallery

Ferrara’s most beautiful palace is the Palazzo dei Diamanti, which houses the National Picture Gallery. The Palazzo dei Diamanti is named thus, because of the diamond points into which the facade’s stone blocks are cut. The National Picture Gallery has a large collection of 15th century paintings of the Ferrara School, represented most eminently by Benvenuto Tisio and Girolamo da Carpi.

Ferrara Budget Hotels and Luxury accommodation

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