Ferrara is one of Italy’s most underrated Renaissance cities. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, the entire historic centre reflects the urban planning ideals of the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Este dynasty transformed Ferrara into what historians call Europe’s first modern city. Unlike Florence or Venice, Ferrara rewards slow exploration: cycling the 9 km of intact Renaissance walls, lingering in its castle courtyard, and discovering frescoed palaces hidden down narrow cobblestone streets. Most attractions cluster within the medieval core, all walkable or bikeable in a compact centre. Here are the best things to do in Ferrara, with practical details on hours, tickets, and how to make the most of each.. Ferrara guide. Ferrara travel guide
Top Attractions in Ferrara
Castello Estense (Este Castle)
The icon of Ferrara, this red-brick moated castle dominates the city centre. Built in 1385 after a tax revolt, it served as the Este family residence for over 200 years. Enter across a drawbridge over the water-filled moat, still intact on three sides. Inside, the tour takes you through the Ducal Kitchens (with original 16th-century stoves), the Gothic Rooms with 14th-century frescoes, the apartments of Lucrezia Borgia, and the dungeons where political prisoners were held. Climb the Torre dei Leoni (Lion’s Tower) for the best panoramic view over Ferrara’s red-tiled rooftops. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Entrance costs €12 full, €8 reduced (ages 18-25). Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00, closed Mondays except holidays. Last entry 45 minutes before closing. Largo Castello 1.. weather guide. best time to visit. weather by month
Cathedral of San Giorgio (Ferrara Duomo)
The Cathedral faces the castle across Piazza della Cattedrale. Its lower facade is a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture from the 12th century, depicting the Last Judgment in vivid detail. The upper facade is an unfinished 16th-century addition. Inside, the baroque interior holds bronze statues by Giambologna and a 12th-century Byzantine-style Madonna. The adjacent Cathedral Museum (Museo della Cattedrale, €6, Tuesday-Sunday 9:30-13:00 and 15:00-18:00) displays illuminated manuscripts, reliquaries, and original 13th-century sculptures removed from the facade for conservation. The cathedral itself is free, open daily 7:30-12:00 and 15:30-18:30.. events and festivals. events calendar
Palazzo dei Diamanti
This Renaissance palace gets its name from the 8,500 diamond-shaped marble blocks covering its facade. Built for Sigismondo d’Este in 1493-1503, it now houses the Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Gallery, €6, Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:30), with works by Cosmè Tura, Ercole de’ Roberti, and other masters of the Ferrarese School. The ground floor hosts major temporary exhibitions (separate ticket, typically €14-18) that draw international crowds. The intersection outside, Quadrivio degli Angeli, is one of Italy’s most photographed Renaissance street corners. Corso Ercole I d’Este 21.. neighborhoods
Via delle Volte
This narrow, arched medieval street in the old merchants’ quarter is one of Ferrara’s most atmospheric walks. The via runs parallel to the former Po River course, with suspended passageways (volte) connecting buildings overhead. Originally these arches allowed merchants to move goods from their warehouses directly to the river. Today the street is lined with small osterie, artisan workshops, and wine bars. Start at the southern end near Piazza Trento e Trieste and walk its full 2 km to the city walls. Best photographed in early morning or late afternoon when light shafts through the arches.. where to stay. Ferrara travel tips
Palazzo Schifanoia
The ‘Palace of Escaping Boredom’ was the Este family’s pleasure palace, built in 1385 and expanded in the 1460s. Its crown jewel is the Salone dei Mesi (Hall of the Months), where frescoes by Francesco del Cossa and Cosmè Tura depict the 12 months with astrological signs, ruling gods, and scenes of Este court life. The March, April, and May frescoes are the best preserved. The palace also houses the Museo Civico di Arte Antica with Roman and Etruscan finds from the Po Delta. Entry costs €6, Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00. Via Scandiana 23.
Monastero di Sant’Antonio in Polesine
This working convent of cloistered Benedictine nuns holds some of Ferrara’s finest early Renaissance frescoes. You enter through a small door, ring the bell, and a nun admits you for a brief guided visit (free, but a donation of €3-5 is appropriate). The three chapels contain Giotto-influenced fresco cycles from the 14th and 15th centuries. Visits are at fixed times: Monday-Saturday at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 15:15, 16:15, and 17:15. Ring the bell at Via del Gambone 26. Respect the silence and modest dress. This is an active religious community.
Mura di Ferrara (City Walls)
Ferrara’s 9-km circuit of Renaissance walls is one of the best-preserved city wall systems in Italy and a UNESCO-listed feature in its own right. Built mainly in the 15th and 16th centuries, the walls were designed for artillery defence and never saw a major siege. Today they form a continuous green belt circling the historic centre, with raised cycling and walking paths along the top. Rent a bike from any of the dozen rental shops near the station (€8-12 per day) and cycle the full circuit in about an hour, passing bastions, gates, and views across the Po plain. The stretch between Porta Paola and Porta San Giorgio on the southern side has the best-preserved ramparts and the quietest path. Start from Parco Massari and loop clockwise for the best light.
MEIS: Museo Nazionale dell’Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah
Opened in 2017 in a converted former prison, the National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah tells the 2,200-year story of Jews in Italy through interactive exhibits, artefacts, and multimedia installations. The building itself is architectural: five glass-and-steel structures representing the five books of the Torah, set within the preserved brick prison walls. The permanent exhibition ‘Jews, an Italian Story’ covers Roman times to the present. Ferrara had one of Italy’s oldest and largest Jewish communities, and the museum stands in the former ghetto area. Entry costs €10 full, €8 reduced. Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00. Via Piangipane 81.
Casa Romei
This 15th-century noble residence is the best-preserved example of a Renaissance merchant’s house in Ferrara. Built for Giovanni Romei, a wealthy administrator to the Este court, it retains original frescoes, terracotta decorations, and a central courtyard with a well and loggia. The Sala delle Sibille (Room of the Sibyls) has particularly fine 15th-century frescoes of female prophets. Less visited than the major palaces, Casa Romei gives a more intimate sense of Renaissance domestic life. Entry costs €5, Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-19:30. Via Savonarola 30.
Things to Do Near Ferrara: Day Trips
Comacchio and the Po Delta
This small lagoon town 40 km (25 mi) east of Ferrara sits on 13 tiny islands connected by bridges across Po Delta canals. Comacchio is a miniature Venice: brightly painted fishing boats, seafood trattorias along the canals, and the Trepponti bridge (1638), a five-arched staircase bridge that is the town’s symbol. The Po Delta Regional Park offers birdwatching with 300+ species including pink flamingos that nest in the saline lagoons from March through October. The ancient fishing huts (casoni di canna) are preserved in the park. Bus 331 runs from Ferrara station to Comacchio in 45 minutes (€4.20 one-way, 15 departures daily). By car, take the SS309 Romea south, roughly 40 minutes.
Bologna: 30 Minutes by Train
Ferrara is just 30 minutes by regional train from Bologna Centrale (€5.15 one-way, 3-4 trains per hour). Bologna’s medieval towers, porticoes (62 km of them, UNESCO-listed), and food scene (tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini in brodo) make it an easy half-day or full-day trip. Trains run from 05:00 to 23:00 with regular service. Bologna is also the interchange for high-speed trains to Florence (35 minutes), Milan (1 hour), and Rome (2 hours), making Ferrara a practical base for day trips across northern Italy.
Abbazia di Pomposa
This 9th-century Benedictine abbey 45 km northeast of Ferrara features a 48-metre Romanesque bell tower (1063) and a church with extraordinary 14th-century frescoes by Vitale da Bologna and other masters of the Rimini School. The chapter house contains early Giotto-influenced fresco cycles. The abbey sits in open countryside near the Po Delta, a peaceful contrast to urban attractions. Free entry to the abbey; the museum costs €5. Open Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-19:30 (summer), shorter hours in winter. Reach by car via SS309 Romea (40 minutes) or infrequent buses from Ferrara and Comacchio. The restaurant Antica Trattoria La Pomposa in nearby Codigoro makes a good lunch stop.
