Ferrara and the Este Castle
The moated castle in the city centre
In the heart of Ferrara, a city of the Po plain that was for over three centuries the capital of the Este family, one of the most refined courts of the Renaissance, stands the Castello Estense, a massive brick fortress with four corner towers, surrounded by a moat full of water and crossed by drawbridges. It was built from 1385 by Marquis Niccolò II d'Este, to a design by Bartolino da Novara, after a popular revolt against taxes, during which the tax collector was killed by the crowd: the castle was born to protect the family from its own subjects. Over time, it was transformed into a luxurious ducal residence, connected to the town hall by an elevated passage.
Inside you can visit the frescoed rooms of the dukes, such as the Salone dei Giochi, decorated with scenes of ancient sports, the chapel of Renée of France and the Giardino degli Aranci, a hanging garden of orange trees on a terrace, and descend into the dark prisons in the towers, where in 1425 were held, before being beheaded, Parisina Malatesta, the young wife of Niccolò III, and Ugo, the marquis's son, guilty of a love affair. From the Torre dei Leoni, you can enjoy a view over the roofs of the city. Ferrara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "City of the Renaissance", thanks to its grand urban plan, the Addizione Erculea, designed at the end of the fifteenth century by Biagio Rossetti, considered the first modern city in Europe. Typical of the city are the cappellacci di zucca, pumpkin pasta, and the coppia ferrarese bread.
Tip: the castle is the best starting point for exploring the city; climb the Torre dei Leoni for the view.
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