Where the Po 39 Mura – Porta San Pietro PROVINCIA 1h 00’ DI FERRARA once flowed 11 Monastero di Sant’Antonio in Polesine Until the 12th Century, Via Ripagrande was the main branch of the Founded in 14th Century by Beata Beatrice d’Este, it has chapels Parco Urbano G. Bassani Po that today runs a few kilometres away to the north of the city. with frescoes of the Giotto’s and byzantine schools. 27 Via R. Bacchelli It originally flowed past the southern walls, where in the past a river port handled the shipping of goods. The south of the city was 22 Palazzo Costabili Viale XXV Aprile the oldest part and extended along the banks of the river, where National Archaeological Museum Via Gramicia various streets along which goods were taken to the marketplace Also known as “Palace of Ludovico il Moro”, the building dates back 29 Via Porta Catena Via Arianuova met with it. This area is still largely intact and offers glimpses of to the 16th Century and it hosts the finds of the Etruscan city of Spi- buildings of significant cultural and religious importance. na, which flourished from the 6th to the 3rd Century BC. Particularly 1 35 When the course of the main river was re-routed to the north of fascinating are the large Attic symposium vases, and the precious Corso Porta Po Corso Ercole I d’Este the city, the riverbed gradually narrowed and new buildings were 23 gold, silver, amber and paste stone jewels. Not to be missed the erected, later, Duke Borso had the area encircled by the city walls rooms with frescoes by Garofalo, and the Renaissance garden. 21 Corso Porta Mare Viale Cavour 17 to create a new quarter. 13 34 7 Basilica – Monastero di San Giorgio 3 From Castello Estense th 5 The first city Cathedral, from the 7 Century AD, it was re-built in V o th z i a the 15 Century by Biagio Rossetti. n C o 24 Palazzo Municipale s a I 3 l 14 d o i s 31 Corso Giovecca r or Via Montebello o l C o 4 Cattedrale 24 Via Mortara V 4 ia P ia 36 6 36 Piazza Trento Trieste 9 n 12 g ip 30 Vi a 32 a D ne 33 19 30 Sinagoghe – Museo Ebraico ars 2 en 25 a V 10 20 ia 37 28 C 25 Palazzo Paradiso ar lo 16 Ma 38 26 Former seat of the University, the palace now contains the “Ario- yr 8 Via Caldirolo stea” Library, the tomb of Ludovico Ariosto, and many important P Via XX Settembre o historical relics and works of art. d i V o 39 la 38 Area Castrum Bizantino n 11 22 o The earliest settlement on the site of present-day Ferrara was a N Vi al e castrum or military camp established by the Byzantines of Raven- Vo lano na on the left bank of the river Po. 11 22 500 m 7 2h 20’ The ture are represented there, surrounded by the greenery of the 1h 00’ embankments and ramparts. Also studied by Michelangelo as an Walls example of the highest military art, the red tile curtain walls bear The detailed map of the town and the schedule for museums, EN churches and monuments are available at: The walls, stretching for nine kilometres, surround Ferrara almost witness to the important past of the city. entirely, forming one of the most comprehensive and varied routes Nowadays, the city walls have become a large park, in addition to Visit TOURIST INFORMATION in Italy. All the most significant periods of Italian military architec- the smaller ones within the city. OFFICE Castello Estense tel. +39 0532 209370, fax +39 0532 212266 [email protected] Ferrara www.ferrarainfo.com in brief COMUNE DI FERRARA U.O. Manifestazioni culturali e Turismo Viale Alfonso d’Este, 17 tel. +39 0532 744653 United Nations Ferrara, City of Edited by: Ufficio Informazioni Turistiche, Castello Estense, Ferrara / Design concept: Noemastudio, Ferrara Educational, Scientific and the Renaissance Printed by: Tipolitografia Baraldi, Cento (Ferrara) / Editing closed: 16/10/2015 Cultural Organization and its Po Delta The Mediaeval Centre The Renaissance of San Cristoforo, by Biagio Rossetti. Since the beginning of the Renaissance residences 0h 35’ and the Jewish town 1h 10’ Addition 19th Century, it has become the city’s monumental cemetery. 0h 40’ and churches From the Middle Ages to today, the area around the Cathedral has Throughout the Middle Ages and almost to the end of the 15th 27 Mura – Porta degli Angeli Along the ancient Via di San Francesco, the main thoroughfare of always been the focus of the city life. The seat of the various rulers Century, the northern boundary of the city ran along the current the new districts commissioned by Niccolò III and an elegant street over the years and a commercial and historical area of great impor- road system of Viale Cavour-Corso Giovecca. To the north of this 34 Piazza Ariostea in the Medieval city, stand many palazzos, patrician residences and tance, the centre is still the favourite meeting place of residents and boundary there were a number of buildings, even prestigious ones, Large green area with the statue of L. Ariosto in the middle. major churches. The itinerary winds among these wonders to the visitors alike. The original layout of the ancient city, which has been some of which were owned by the Duke. In 1492 Ercole I commis- 35 Cimitero ebraico “Delizie”, dwellings built by the court for amusement and relaxa- developing along the banks of the river Po, is still clearly recogniz- sioned Biagio Rossetti to include this vast area in the centre (thus tion, far from the cares of governing. Addizione Erculea able in the famous area of Via delle Volte. doubling the surface area of the city) and the great architect and Surrounded by the greenery of the , the Jewish town-planner designed a plan which, due to its original and ration- Cemetery includes tombs of great artistic value, such as the one 3 From Castello Estense 3 From Castello Estense of the writer G. Bassani. al nature, made Ferrara “the first modern city in Europe”. In honour 31 Teatro Comunale (Diversion from the itinerary) The Castle built in 1385 to protect the Este family, still has the ti- of the Duke who ordered its building this great district is known as 17 Orto botanico pycal aspect of a medieval fortress, even though the marble bal- Addizione Erculea. The Botanical Garden is a scientific institution born within the 24 Palazzo Municipale conies and the tower loggias remind us of the transformations of University; a lot of plants, both in the open air and in greenhouses, the XVI Century, when the building became the new ducal palace. 3 From Castello Estense 4 Cattedrale are kept here. The Filippi School (16th Century) painted the inside frescoes. Tem- porary seat of the collections of G. Boldini and F. de Pisis. 13 Museo del Risorgimento e della Resistenza 36 Piazza Trento Trieste 23 Palazzo Massari (Temporarily closed for restorations) The beating heart of the city, this square dates back to the Middle It keeps important historical documents. th 24 Palazzo Municipale Seat of the “Giovanni Boldini” Museum, the Museum of the 19 Ages, when the new Cathedral was built. Century, and the “Filippo de Pisis” Museum of Modern and Con- Begun in 1245, it was the Este residence till the 16th Century. Re- 21 Palazzo dei Diamanti temporary Art. 6 Chiesa di San Francesco stored at the beginning of last century in 13th-Century style, it is With its original façade covered with diamond-shaped stones, the In pure Renaissance style, the building is a masterpiece of Biagio now the seat of the Town Hall. palace is attributed to Biagio Rossetti. In the large rooms on the 5 Chiesa del Gesù first floor you can see the collections of the National Picture Gal- Rossetti. Built in 1570 for the Jesuits to a design by Alberto Schiatti, it hous- 4 Cattedrale lery, while the Galleries of Modern and Contemporary Art, on the es the “Mourning of Christ”, a 15th-Century sculpture group in poly- 2 Casa Romei The cathedral, dedicated to the patron saints of the city, George ground floor, house international art exhibitions. chrome terracotta by Guido Mazzoni. The house is an outstanding example of a building between Mid- and Maurelius, is a harmonic unity of Romanesque solidity and dle-Ages and Renaissance. On the ground floor some rooms are exquisite Gothic elegance. 1 Casa di Ludovico Ariosto (Out of the route) 14 Museo di Storia Naturale decorated with gothic frescoes and a small sculpture museum. The house was Ludovico Ariosto’s residence during the last years Particularly interesting for the collections covering all the realms On the first floor there is a XVI Century apartment with beautiful 12 Museo della Cattedrale of his life and it was built around 1528, probably on a project by of nature. decorations, and pieces of ancient furniture. The Cathedral Museum is located in the little church of San Ro- architect Girolamo da Carpi. It houses documents and some Ario- mano and houses objects which once belonged to the cathedral sto’s personal belongings. 31 Teatro Comunale Claudio Abbado 10 Monastero del Corpus Domini like the ancient organ shutters by Cosmé Tura, the panels of the Designed by Antonio Foschini at the end of the 18th Century, it It keeps the memories of Santa Caterina Vegri together with some destroyed Door of the Months, sculptures, statues and 16th Centu- 29 Tempio di San Cristoforo alla Certosa is famous for the Prose, Ballet, Opera and Concerts Seasons.