Things to see in Ferrara – page 2

Ferrara is a city in Italy. Together with the nearby delta of the Po river, Ferrara has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Although it certainly has a thriving tourism industry, Ferrara is not on the typical foreign tourist's itinerary, which makes it perfect for those tourists who want to get off the beaten path of Venice-Florence-Rome and soak in some authentic northern Italian culture. It's characterized by twisting medieval cobblestoned streets, a Duomo (cathedral) with a looming Gothic façade, and—best of all—a castle straight out of storybooks, complete with towers, moat, and drawbridges (that you can cross during the day).

Ferrara is one of a few provincial centres in Italy (along with Lucca, Bergamo and Grosseto) where city walls were remained mostly intact. The most of the attractions of the city are inside its almost 9 km city walls. The €20 MyFe card covers the entry to several museums and one night city tax for the hotels.

Castello Estense (Este castle). The castle, built in 1385, is the main attraction of the city. It is one of a few medieval castles remaining in Europe that retains its moat. Palazzo municipale (Palazzo Ducale). Free guided tours. Cattedrale di San Giorgio Martire, Piazza della Cattedrale. Its construction begun in the 12th century, so the lower part of the building has characteristic Romanesque appearance. Palazzo Costabili (Palazzo di Ludovico il Moro). The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (National Archaeological Museum) is here. Palazzo dei Diamanti. On the 1st floor it hosts Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Gallery). Palazzo Schifanoia (Museo Schifanoia). It was the only summer residence of Este family inside the city walls. Today the main attraction of the palace is Salone dei Mesi ("Hall of the Months") decorated by pagan cycle frescos representing the months of a year.