English , CAPITAL OF THE RENAISSANCE

MAP A detail of the fresco in Salone dei Mesi in Palazzo Schifanoia

Castello Estense Itinerary 2 Itinerary 4 At the Este The wonders court of Este art

The stones of Ferrara’s Renaissance art reflected the new centrality still echo with the footsteps and voices of its of mankind and his role in the world, an former inhabitants. Its prison is where Ugo, awareness that inspired artists, who used son of Marquis Niccolò III, and Parisina, the sacred and secular subjects in landscapes, Delizia del Verginese marquis’ young wife, died after they had had a Menorah architecture and portraits. One of the prime () secret love affair and where Giulio d’Este, half- examples of Renaissance art is the cycle brother of Duke Alfonso I, was imprisoned of frescoes in Salone dei Mesi in Palazzo Itinerary 1 for 53 years. Meanwhile, on the main floor, Itinerary 3 Schifanoia; today, it can again be appreciated Itinerary 5 Lucrezia Borgia, prima donna of the 16th in all its beauty thanks to architectural Ferrara, century, and her retinue celebrated the pomp Crossing Jewish restoration and new lighting. Inspired by The landscape of an era when Ferrara was one of the most the months of the year and the signs of the ideal city splendid courts in Europe, as immortalised Ferrara zodiac, the expressions, gestures and faces of the Delizie by Ludovico Ariosto in his epic poem The of the figures narrate a 550-year-old story. In Con il patrocinio del Frenzy of Orlando (Orlando Furioso) and the month of March, the mysterious Vir Niger, depicted by the artists of the great Ferrara the black man, the last dean of the zodiac A walk through the heart of Ferrara school. Starting from this majestic symbol of Located in the heart of Ferrara, the sign of Aries, accompanies Borso, Duke of Palazzo Schifanoia was built in 1385 by becomes a step back into the Renaissance. Ferrara, with its four towers surrounded by a column topped by Borso d’Este consists Ferrara in 1471, and his court, protected by Alberto V d’Este, but it was Borso d’Este, United Nations Ferrara, City of Educational, Scientific and the Renaissance The old town centre, a UNESCO World moat, elegant white balustrades, prisons and in layers of Jewish gravestones from the Gods of the Olympus sitting on celestial marquis and then duke of Ferrara, who Cultural Organization and its Po Delta Heritage Site since 1995, is a wonderful rooms for court games, and following Corso some old city cemeteries. Before the chariots. Equally impressive are the frescoes commissioned its current appearance example of a city designed in the 15th Giovecca takes visitors to Palazzina Marfisa, gates of the Jewish ghetto closed every of Palazzo Costabili, with its magnificent to “schivar la noia” or avoid boredom, an century that has remained largely intact. a magnificent example of a noble residence evening on its inhabitants, Ferrara 16th-century ceiling painted by Garofalo, expression referring to its role as a venue From , the Este family built by Francesco d’Este, son of Duke Alfonso was safe and welcoming for the large and the frescoes in Sala delle Sibille e dei for entertainment and recreation. It is residence so named because of the circa I and Lucrezia Borgia. Nearby is Palazzo community of Jewish refugees from other Profeti in Casa Romei. The works in the one of the few remaining architectural 8,500 diamond-shaped ashlars that cover European countries. Walking around expressions of country houses known FERRARA, Schifanoia, a recently-restored “Delizia” Museo della Cattedrale and the Pinacoteca CAPITAL OF THE two façades, to the great expansion of the conceived by Borso d’Este as a sublime place the streets of the Jewish ghetto means Nazionale collection, housed on the main as Delizie Estensi. Commissioned by RENAISSANCE city under Duke Ercole I, known as the for avoiding boredom; its Salone dei Mesi immersing oneself in the rich cultural floor of Palazzo dei Diamanti, are particularly the Dukes of Este, these lavish villas, i Herculean Addition. In 1492, architect boasts famous frescoes. Other stunning dialogue between Hebrew culture, the impressive. The latter offers an important recognised as World Heritage Sites Biagio Rossetti conceived an urban plan that palaces on this route are Palazzo Roverella, predominant Christian culture and the exhibition of Renaissance art, spanning from by UNESCO, were a network of noble MAP Bicycle Info extended the centre to include all the most Palazzo Bonacossi, Palazzo di Renata di Renaissance. The route meanders along Cosmè Tura to and including residences dotted all around the Ferrara prestigious buildings. In terms of uniqueness Francia and Palazzo Costabili, also known as charming mediaeval streets: Via Mazzini, the dramatic paintings of Bastianino, which area. Built on waterways, they acted as hire in and rationality, it was the “first modern city in Palazzo di Ludovico il Moro. the main road through the ancient ghetto, brought an end to the Este era in Ferrara. centres of political, economic and military Europe” - an ideal city, with straight, wide roads, is lined with largely-intact old buildings control; they often had large gardens, Ferrara: For up-to-date museum squares, gardens and superb architecture, and is where shops owned by Jews were rooms decorated with works by artists and monument crossed by Corso Ercole I d’Este, known as once concentrated, Via Vittoria, with its of the era and even game reserves to Agenzia Linktours opening times contact “the most beautiful road in Europe”. Hosting palaces, ancient courtyards and charming entertain noble guests. As well as Palazzo Via Garibaldi, 103 the IAT Tourist Office many important collections, majestic and Triumphs and balconies, was mentioned in the novel The ceramics Schifanoia, located within the city walls, At the table +39 0532 201365 +39 0532 209370 prestigious palaces, like the Palazzo Massari The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Il Giardino the province also boasts refined and or check the website: complex (currently closed for restoration), tournaments dei Finzi-Contini), and Via Vignatagliata. loved by the Este elegant Delizia di Benvignante in Argenta with Messisbugo Al Biciclar www.ferrarainfo.com/en continue as far as Piazza Ariostea, home to the Nearby is MEIS (National Museum of (not open for visits), Delizia del Verginese Via S.Maurelio, 16 www.ferrarainfo.com/en/renaissance recently-restored statue of the poet Ludovico Imagine skilful hands moving across Este velvets, Italian Judaism and the Shoah) which Ladies, page boys and other court figures, along (Portomaggiore), which became a ducal In Ferrara you can still savour the ancient flavours of +39 333 9455193 Ariosto. From here, it is easy to reach the huge sewing the history of the pomp and ceremony of an offers evidence of the age-old history of with deer, dogs and rabbits surrounded by cornices, residence under Alfonso I d’Este, Delizia the Renaissance every time you visit an inn. Culinary and enchanting Tempio di San Cristoforo alla era in which every noble palace in Ferrara took part in Jews in , including the tragic events medallions and religious and heraldic symbols di Belriguardo (), the richest and tradition finds noble origins in the cuisine of the the great celebrations for the Palio di San Giorgio. and accompanied by a sophisticated collection Este family, when banquets were a time to come BiciDeltaPo Certosa or the house once owned by the poet Today, as then, citizens dress in lavish clothes as surrounding racial persecution and the of undulating or interwoven ribbons, crumpled most sumptuous, and Castello di together and satisfy the palate, be entertained and Hotel Europa, Ariosto. Continuing along Corso Ercole I d’Este they prepare to parade through the city streets and Shoah. It was established to promote the leaves, meadows in bloom and dotted backgrounds: (Mesola), a cross between a fortress and consolidate public relations. In the Renaissance C.so Giovecca, 49 and heading beyond the walls leads to the take part in races, challenges and tournaments in its exceptional continuity of a prolific and these are the delicate, decorative motifs typical of a villa. Other Delizie include 15th-century period, “coppia” ferrarese or twisted bread as it was squares. The entire city brings to life an era rich in Renaissance sgraffito ceramic with unmistakeable known then, was fragrant and crisp, with crumbly +39 0532 205456 other modern addition, Parco G. Bassani, the uninterrupted relationship between the Villa della Mensa in Sabbioncello San city’s “green lungs”. pomp and splendour for a timeless celebration. It is a Jewish population and the city. Returning colours – pastel nuances of yellow and green – that Vittore, Delizia della Diamantina in tips and a soft heart. The famous chef of the Este competition between the eight contrade or districts fire melts and blends into unusual chromatic effects. court, Messer Cristoforo da Messisbugo, mentioned Ceragioli of Ferrara, made up of the four quarters inside the towards the centre and heading north Duke Alfonso d’Este was a great lover of Ferrara Vigarano Pieve, Delizia di Fossadalbero, it in his book “Banchetti, composizione di vivande e Piazza Travaglio, 4 mediaeval walls and the four hamlets located outside leads to the Jewish Cemetery, where the sgraffito ceramics, so much so that he made it the prestigious Delizia di Zenzalino in apparecchio generale” (Banquets, Recipes and General +39 339 4056853 them. The same atmosphere of the past returns to writer Giorgio Bassani is buried. main feature of his court table. The fascinating Copparo and Palazzo Pio in Tresigallo – Utensils for the Kitchen and the Table). Court master life during the Renaissance Carnival, an historical practice of engraving and the use of colours are still these latter villas can only be seen from of ceremonies and responsible for the sophisticated commemoration of celebrations held by the Este in the main feature of this type of ceramic that, after banquets of Alfonso I d’Este and then Ercole II d’Este, Hotel Annunziata the 15th and 16th centuries. It is a step back to the four centuries, a group of ceramists from Ferrara are the outside. his books also celebrated many other specialities Piazza Repubblica, 5 times of Duke Ercole I d’Este and Lucrezia Borgia, continuing to create using the same techniques and that have been handed down to us – delicious salama +39 0532 201111 with period masks, dances and celebrations in the creativity of times gone by, in the workshops and da sugo, seasoned with wine and spices and served historical palaces, flag wavers, jugglers, spectacles laboratories of Ferrara and its surrounding area. But with mashed potatoes, pasticcio di maccheroni in and banquets. please remember, these are not handicrafts, they are a sweet short pastry case, cappellacci pasta parcels Ricicletta (Factory Grisù) genuine works of art. filled with pumpkin, once spicier than they are now, Via Poledrelli, 21 and pampapato to end on a sweet note... and the +39 329 0477971 Renaissance is served.

Todisco Bike Corso Porta Po, 102 +39 346 1394287 Via del Podestà, 4 +39 0532 096507

A detail of the entrance Con il patrocinio del to Palazzo dei Diamanti

United Nations Ferrara, City of A detail of the fresco in Salone dei Mesi Ferrara sgraffito Coppia Educational, Scientific and the Renaissance Cultural Organization and its Po Delta in Palazzo Schifanoia ceramics ferrarese bread Ferrara At the Este Crossing Jewish The wonders At the table ideal city court Ferrara of Este art with Messisbugo

Palazzo dei Diamanti Castello Estense Palazzo Schifanoia Jewish Ghetto Frescoes in Salone dei Mesi Covered in about 8,500 pink and A majestic symbol of Ferrara It was Borso d’Este, first marquis The mediaeval quarter of Ferrara in Palazzo Schifanoia with its four towers, elegant and then duke of Ferrara, to request white marble ashlars, it is considered preserves the memories of one of the The Salone dei Mesi has one of the most the current appearance in order to one of the masterpieces of the white balustrades, prisons oldest Jewish communities in Italy. important 15th-century cycles of frescoes and rooms for court games schivar la noia or avoid boredom. Renaissance and was once home to by the leading artists of Ferrara. Pumpkin cappellacci Sigismondo d’Este. and entertainment. A Delizia Estense, it is home to the Salone dei Mesi. Colonna di Borso dEste The column of Borso d’Este, also known Frescoes in Palazzo Costabili Palazzo di Giulio dEste Corso Giovecca A monumental Renaissance This ancient road is flanked Palazzo Costabili as the Jewish column, consists in In the Sala del Tesoro, the magnificent palace designed by the architect with numerous buildings Also known as Palazzo di Ludovico layers of gravestones from old Jewish 16th-century ceiling was frescoed by Biagio Rossetti. and places of historical il Moro, it now houses the National cemeteries. Garofalo. importance. Archaeological Museum of Ferrara. Coppia ferrarese Palazzo Prosperi Sacrati Jewish Cemetery Frescoes and paintings in Casa Romei This is the oldest palace in the Palazzo Roverella The cemetery is the resting place of The Sala delle Sibille e dei Profeti, Herculean Addition. Mentioned A magnificent 16th-century many figures including Giorgio Bassani, the wooden ceilings, the frescoed vaults in the poems of Carducci, it has a palace. Renzo Ravenna and Paolo Ravenna. and the “Alcove” make up a unique magnificent monumental portal. artistic corpus. PARC RBAN G. BASSANI Palazzina Marfisa d’Este FERRARA Salama da sugo Via Vittoria A magnificent example of IA ICCAD BACCEI uadrivio degli Angeli With small palaces, internal courtyards Pinacoteca Nazionale The crossroads overlooked by Palazzo a noble residence built by and charming balconies, the road is Cosmè Tura, Ercole de' Roberti and the Prosperi Sacrati, Palazzo Bevilacqua, Francesco d’Este. mentioned in the novel other creators of the “Ferrara Workshop”, Palazzo Turchi di Bagno and Palazzo IAE AD FI The Garden dei Diamanti. of the Finzi-Continis (Il Giardino as well as Gentile da Fabriano, Mantegna Palazzo di Renata di Francia dei Finzi-Contini). and Carpaccio, are just some of the artists in the Pinacoteca Nazionale on the main A residence of the Este Pasticcio ferrarese Herculean Addition family designed by the floor of Palazzo dei Diamanti. An urban plan commissioned by architect Pietro Benvenuto CERTSA Via Mazzini Ercole I d’Este and created by the degli Ordini. IAE AIE IA MAIA DEI AEI MNMENTAL The main road in the ancient ghetto CEMETER genius of Biagio Rossetti, who made where the shops and old buildings have Museo della Cattedrale Ferrara the first modern city in Europe. largely retained their original structure. This houses a rich collection of work Palazzo Bonacossi by the Renaissance school. Pampapato A 15th-century palace C ECE I DETE allocated by Borso d’Este Corso Ercole I dEste IAE BEEDEE MEIS (National Museum of Italian This leads from the castle to Porta to Diotisalvi Neroni. IAE CETA Judaism and the Shoah) degli Angeli, without business Established to bear witness to the two premises, it is flanked by beautiful CTADA DE MIAE thousand years of events that have Renaissance palaces. IA AIAA marked the presence of Jews in Italy and promote the prolific and uninterrupted IA AII MAP Parco Massari relationship between Jews and the city. JEISH F THE PRVINCE This is the biggest public park CEMETER F FERRARA

SS RMEA within the walls and has two ancient PARC IA B CT C TA PROVINCE OF A IT IA AIT Lebanon cedars at the entrance. E I MASSARI A D Fiume o Fiume o ROVIGO I E IA AE PROVINCE OF C BIAI ETTI ROVIGO BERRA ATSTRADA A

Palazzo Massari IA IE SS ADRIATICA SR R The last important building MESLA MESLA PROVINCE OF constructed in the Este era. MANTOVA IA EDEI C TA MAE PIAZZA o di Goro ARISTEA Piazza Ariostea IAE CA CPPAR An unusual oval-shaped square with BNDEN IA MACEAI IA EATA DI FACIA a lowered floor, famous for hosting IA CAI FE NRD GR the Palio races. PROVINCE OF FERRARA TADIM o di Volano CDIGR VIGARAN C IAE C ECE I DETE IA BAI MIRABELL Home of Ludovico Ariosto IAA IA B DEI EI MAINARDA TA The home of the famous poet, TRESIGALL A CATE IA MTEBE LIDO DI VOLANO who wrote the last version of his IA EIATI MIGLIAR FE SD epic poem The Frenzy of Orlando IA M BEI

C I C MIGLIARIN (Orlando Furioso) here. C ITTI EET IA MTAA SS ADRIATICA VGHIERA LAGSANT LIDO DELLE NAIONI RACC. ATSTRADALE FERRARA PRT GARIBALDI PGGI IA AET STELLAT IA AIBADI RENATIC o di rimaro IAA Tempio di San Cristoforo IAA LIDO DI POMPOSA I EBBICA CENT MAI LIDO DEGLI SCACCHI alla Certosa IA EITEA This is one of the most original works PRTMAGGIRE PORTO GARIBALDI of the Renaissance in Ferrara. IA CA DEE TE C IECCA CMACCHI IA FECBADI IA BEAIA Fiume eno LIDO DEGLI ESTENSI ATSTRADA A

IA MTEBE IAA LIDO DI SPINA C MATII D IBET

Certosa Monumental Cemetery CATTEDAE

TETIAA TIETE SS PRRETTANA The city’s main burial site within IA TAAETT PROVINCE OF ADRIATIC the walls of Ferrara, it houses IA IAIAE BOLOGNA C I SEA IA IAADE IA CAICA ARGENTA VALLES F the tomb of Duke Borso d’Este. CMACCHI IA MAII IA MTAA AMAI DI A A Porta degli Angeli Fiume eno C TA E

The only gateway to the city, IA MA IA DEE TE SS ADRIATICA it can also be visited internally. IA IATAIATA SS RMEA IA DEA ITTIA IA TEAA IA AAA PROVINCE OF IA CA MA RAVENNA The alls IAA TAAI IA BAI The city centre is surrounded by 9 km IA CITEA DE F of walls, which combine monumental TA AA The landscape beauty and a green park, which can be IAA EDI covered on foot or by bicycle. IA EAT of the Delizie IA B DI IA MADAMA IA CADIAA Parco Bassani IA CAMME Once an Este game reserve, these Palazzo Schifanoia Delizia del Verginese Delizia di Benvignante IA AIIEA A built within the (Portomaggiore) (Argenta) 1,200 hectares of green are now a city IA DEI BAADI IA CETA Delizia Estense park dedicated to the writer Giorgio IA CA MA city walls of Ferrara that is home to This villa was transformed into a A splendid example of the sober Bassani. the Salone dei Mesi, with frescoes ducal residence in the early 16th and refined elegance of Ferrara’s IA BAD

IA DE MEE commissioned by Borso d’Este. century by Alfonso I d’Este. architecture during the Renaissance. IA CETA

IA ETTEMBE IA CA MA Castello di Mesola (Mesola) Delizia della Diamantina Delizia di Fossadalbero Four imposing towers and embattled (Vigarano Pieve) The palace where Ugo, son of walls make the castle a building that is A splendid estate known as Marquis Niccolò III, secretly met halfway between a fortress and a Delizia. Diamantina due to one of the Parisina, the marquis’ young wife, IA CAM ABBIAI emblems of the , for one of the most infamous the diamond. stories from court life.

IA AF I DETE Villa della Mensa (Sabbioncello San Vittore) A 15th-century villa commissioned Delizia di Belriguardo (Voghiera) Delizia di Zenzalino (Copparo) by Bartolomeo della Rovere. Commissioned by Niccolò dEste, A prestigious villa and one it was the first of the famous Delizie of the showpieces of Duke Borso. Estensi, the family’s most lavish and sumptuous summer residence. Palazzo Pio (Tresigallo) A 16th-century palace belonging to the nobleman Alessandro Feruffino, captain of the guards of Duke Alfonso I d’Este.