Centro Storico Ferrara
Centro Storico Ferrara
4.5
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4.5
2,243 reviews
Excellent
1,538
Very good
610
Average
73
Poor
13
Terrible
9
Wendy K
Marina del Rey, CA75 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Ferrara is everything I'd hoped it would be. Interesting old architecture, not too many tourists, some vibrant immigrant areas, some stately old areas, strong evidence of the architectural decisions of the Catholic church, evidence of great opulence at one point. Quaint side streets, chic shops, out-of-the-way restaurants. It's an interesting, lively place.
Written 13 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asiyah Noemi K
Pula, Croatia5,332 contributions
Oct 2019
Ferrara is a city that delights and you instantly fall in love. It is a wonderful atmosphere and with its rich history and culture immediately charmed. Especially good atmosphere can be felt on the streets Piazza Cattedrale Piazza Trento e Trieste. Ferrara is a wonderful place for lovers of medieval art, architecture and history like us. Ferrara was the first modern city and one of the culturally most important Italian Renaissance city states, Ferrara was one of the European capitals of culture, arts, politics, gastronomy, in addition to being a reference point for artists, poets and minstrels. The Estense Dynasty was a large family of eccentric and well-educated patrons who transformed rural centers into a Renaissance masterpiece. The heart of the city still maintains a good balance between past and present. In the maze of winding medieval streets, one can still see the trail of the old Po riverbed. There are well preserved examples of the typical architecture of the time, case a cassero, easily recognizable by its narrow, elongated shape.
In the historic center are significant monuments such as the castle of Este (Castello Estense), the symbol of the rule of the Este family over the city, and the cathedral of San Giorgio, a remarkable work that blends Romanesque and Gothic style. Among the many remarkable monuments within the city walls, several stand out: Palazzo dei Diamanti located in Corso Ercole I d'Este, commissioned by architect Biagio Rossetti in 1492 on the orders of Duke Ercole I. The Palazzo Schifanoia with the cycle of murals in the Hall of the Month still represents one of the highlights of the Ferraris Renaissance painting. We continue our enjoyment of the Ferrari in Loggia dei Mercanti, Palazzo e Corte Ducale, Torre dell'Orologio, Piazza Savonarola, Ghetto Ebraico, quartier medioevali e Via delle Volte. Many famous writers such as Torquato Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto, Giorgio Bassani and Matteo Maria Boiardo lived in Ferrari. Also, many notable painters have lived and worked in Ferrara such as Tizian, Andrea Mantegna, Vicino da Ferrara, Giovanni Bellini, Leon Battista Alberti, Pisanello, Piero della Francesca, Rogier van der Weyden and Cosimé Tura. In Ferrara, it can be observed that the bicycle is the main means of transport for all citizens and in every kind of occasion. Which delights us.
In the historic center are significant monuments such as the castle of Este (Castello Estense), the symbol of the rule of the Este family over the city, and the cathedral of San Giorgio, a remarkable work that blends Romanesque and Gothic style. Among the many remarkable monuments within the city walls, several stand out: Palazzo dei Diamanti located in Corso Ercole I d'Este, commissioned by architect Biagio Rossetti in 1492 on the orders of Duke Ercole I. The Palazzo Schifanoia with the cycle of murals in the Hall of the Month still represents one of the highlights of the Ferraris Renaissance painting. We continue our enjoyment of the Ferrari in Loggia dei Mercanti, Palazzo e Corte Ducale, Torre dell'Orologio, Piazza Savonarola, Ghetto Ebraico, quartier medioevali e Via delle Volte. Many famous writers such as Torquato Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto, Giorgio Bassani and Matteo Maria Boiardo lived in Ferrari. Also, many notable painters have lived and worked in Ferrara such as Tizian, Andrea Mantegna, Vicino da Ferrara, Giovanni Bellini, Leon Battista Alberti, Pisanello, Piero della Francesca, Rogier van der Weyden and Cosimé Tura. In Ferrara, it can be observed that the bicycle is the main means of transport for all citizens and in every kind of occasion. Which delights us.
Written 17 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,165 contributions
May 2019
We chose beautiful Ferrara for a day trip mainly because it was only around ½ an hour train trip from Bologna and it was very easy to walk between all the main historic sights. The entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was a perfect day-trip. Our two big highlights were hiring bikes and cycling around the medieval city walls and finishing the day with drinks and aperitivo at the world’s oldest wine bar, Enoteca Brindisi.
TIPS:
i) From the station it is a 20 minute walk to the historic centre. We walked straight down Corso Porte Po to the Estense Castle.
ii) The castle is a very handy place to start your visit because the tourist information is also here.
iii) Allow a full day. We arrived in Ferrara with about 6 hours to explore. This was enough time to look at the castle, stroll through the historic centre and the main piazzas, browse through the weekend market, stop for lunch at Balebuste in the Jewish ghetto, hire bikes and cycle the city walls and finish with aperitivo in the late afternoon.
iv) The cathedral is currently being renovated and is covered with hoardings so you can’t see much or go inside. The pretty pink and white tower around the corner can still be seen
v) Much of the historic centre is a pedestrian only zone so it is perfect for strolling through or hiring a bike and riding around
vi) Don't miss Enoteca Brindisi which has been serving wine since 1400s
TIPS:
i) From the station it is a 20 minute walk to the historic centre. We walked straight down Corso Porte Po to the Estense Castle.
ii) The castle is a very handy place to start your visit because the tourist information is also here.
iii) Allow a full day. We arrived in Ferrara with about 6 hours to explore. This was enough time to look at the castle, stroll through the historic centre and the main piazzas, browse through the weekend market, stop for lunch at Balebuste in the Jewish ghetto, hire bikes and cycle the city walls and finish with aperitivo in the late afternoon.
iv) The cathedral is currently being renovated and is covered with hoardings so you can’t see much or go inside. The pretty pink and white tower around the corner can still be seen
v) Much of the historic centre is a pedestrian only zone so it is perfect for strolling through or hiring a bike and riding around
vi) Don't miss Enoteca Brindisi which has been serving wine since 1400s
Written 31 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sansfrontiere86
Zurich, Switzerland16 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
I was on a short day trip from Bologna by train. The train station and its surroundings are awful, so I went straight to the old town. Once inside the city walls all major streets are leading to the central square. Cars are banned and the lifebeat is very relaxed and slow even for Italian standards. Charming little shops and bars all along the main streets which are crossed by small cobble stone streets with a medieval touch. The main sights are located around the large square in the center. The ensemble is breathtaking. Behind the cathedral is the historic jewish ghetto with more narrow cobble stone streets and an authentic medieval feeling. The old town is rather large in comparison with the total size of the city and there arent many tourists. An amazing little gem, well worth a visit!
Written 1 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TigerRoyalty
Cheshire, UK36 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
We loved strolling about this city. It's filled with old world charm and lots to do. We lament that we didn't have more time to see more that the city has to offer. The architecture in the old quarter is simply beautiful. It's quite regal and eye catching. There are lots of shops and fine restaurants that line the streets and little passages. We had some of the best gelato on one of these tiny streets (I wish I could recall the name of the place). The local folks were quite friendly and spoke English well, which helped us enormously. We even met a fellow Brit in our travels who was soaking in the grand atmosphere like we were. A true delight, this city is!
Written 13 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul D
Southern California, CA217 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
We made a day trip by train from Bologna to Ferrara. The old town is a straight 10-15 minute walk from the train station. The first thing you notice about Ferrara is that someone made the town very tourist friendly. Handy comprehensive English language signs are at major corners to direct tourists to the major sites. The main piazza is wide and expansive and has a relaxed feel about it. We would return to Ferrara.
Written 14 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterandJonell
Geneva, Switzerland23 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Ferrara, a pedestrian- and tourist-friendly delight off the main Italian tourist map (but easy to get to), is well worth a visit and makes a welcome change from the crowds of cities like Florence and Venice, while offering plenty of beauty and culture to rival the others. Notable sights include the Castello Estense, the Palazzo dei Diamanti and the Palazzo Schifanoia. The old city is quite compact, making it easy to visit on foot, and there is much to reward the eye in terms of architecture, gardens and historical detail. Ferrara is also attractive for the satisfying cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region of which it is part, and good restaurants are inexpensive and plentiful.
Written 9 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BellaSaskatoon
Vancouver, Canada76 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
Friends recommended this and we are so appreciative. It is a splendid town where arguably the bicycles outnumber the cars. Tranquil comes to mind, it is a vibrant place but it has a quite civil tranquility to it. The historical centre is actually large with lots of medieval streets to walk through. Lots. It is a great people-watching place and the local food is just great. It's easy rail accessibility to other cities and towns (go to Venice for lunch...) is a bonus. A short 2 hours or so to Rome, it is a great antidote to the more tourist-attracting cities. If you're looking for a non-urban break Ferrara is a great place to visit, a great region of Italy to experience.
Written 9 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,368 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
The old town of Ferrara is extremely valuable, and at the same time it is very different from almost all other old Italian cities.
It's different from those universally appreciated, in central Italy, such as Siena, Volterra, Cortona, Gubbio, etc., because it is set in the open plain, therefore without that character that comes from the picturesque streets in slope, the houses climbing over one another, finally the possibility of catch at one glance the whole city center (Ferrara can be appreciated at one glance only from the air).
It though looks like the cities in central Italy (and thus is different from most of the old centers of Northern Italy) because, as in those, the exceptional preservation of its historic center depends on a story of radical decay: when it was conquered by the Popes, the city has passed (on the end of the sixteenth century) from being the capital of one of the most wonderful courts of the Italian Renaissance (the court of the "Estensi" family) to be one of the many cities of the state of the Church, and even not among the most important ones (as it will continue to be the nearby Bologna).
In fact, in the early twentieth century, the built form of the city was so oversized if compared to its importance, that Ferrara could be counted by the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio between Italian cities so-called "of the silence". And even today, in most of the old town, the streets, though they aren't forbidden to car traffic, see just few cars; contrary to what happens in other old towns of northern Italy, on average more busy. Then you could define Ferrara perhaps "a city of central Italy into the Po plain".
It isn't enough. It is well known that at the time of its heyday, in the late fifteenth century, the city was renovated by the architect Biagio Rossetti, by an operation that has been called "the first of modern town planning in Europe." (B. Zevi). Ie, Rossetti has doubled the size of the medieval city, by the addition of a Renaissance appendix on the north side, with wide streets, squared, and (once again) now often semi-deserted, reminiscent of urban lanscapes of the so-called "metaphysic painting" of Giorgio De Chirico (a artist which not by chance spent in Ferrara a period of his life)
For all these reasons together, I believe the old town of Ferrara allows one of the most important cultural experiences that can be had in an Italian city
It's different from those universally appreciated, in central Italy, such as Siena, Volterra, Cortona, Gubbio, etc., because it is set in the open plain, therefore without that character that comes from the picturesque streets in slope, the houses climbing over one another, finally the possibility of catch at one glance the whole city center (Ferrara can be appreciated at one glance only from the air).
It though looks like the cities in central Italy (and thus is different from most of the old centers of Northern Italy) because, as in those, the exceptional preservation of its historic center depends on a story of radical decay: when it was conquered by the Popes, the city has passed (on the end of the sixteenth century) from being the capital of one of the most wonderful courts of the Italian Renaissance (the court of the "Estensi" family) to be one of the many cities of the state of the Church, and even not among the most important ones (as it will continue to be the nearby Bologna).
In fact, in the early twentieth century, the built form of the city was so oversized if compared to its importance, that Ferrara could be counted by the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio between Italian cities so-called "of the silence". And even today, in most of the old town, the streets, though they aren't forbidden to car traffic, see just few cars; contrary to what happens in other old towns of northern Italy, on average more busy. Then you could define Ferrara perhaps "a city of central Italy into the Po plain".
It isn't enough. It is well known that at the time of its heyday, in the late fifteenth century, the city was renovated by the architect Biagio Rossetti, by an operation that has been called "the first of modern town planning in Europe." (B. Zevi). Ie, Rossetti has doubled the size of the medieval city, by the addition of a Renaissance appendix on the north side, with wide streets, squared, and (once again) now often semi-deserted, reminiscent of urban lanscapes of the so-called "metaphysic painting" of Giorgio De Chirico (a artist which not by chance spent in Ferrara a period of his life)
For all these reasons together, I believe the old town of Ferrara allows one of the most important cultural experiences that can be had in an Italian city
Written 28 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jivko V
Sofia, Bulgaria1,501 contributions
Jan 2020
Beautiful historical center of Ferrara city. All the main buildings like the Estense castle, Ferrara cathedral, Town hall etc. are in the historical center.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciao a tutti,verrò a vivere a Ferrara per motivi di studio.Che zone mi consigliate per prendere casa ? La zona di via aria nuova/Fulvio testi o in centro storico ? Mi piacerebbe un posto in cui stare tranquilla la sera,cioè uscire sola liberamente e al tempo stesso dunque una zona briosa,dove ci sia sempre un po’ di movimento...locali e negozi a portata di mano. Inoltre quali sono i vostri piatti tipici ? Sono curiosa di scoprire questa bella città! Grazie a tutti
P.s. Datemi consigli anche su locali,eventi da non perdere.
Written 12 November 2019
La zona di via Arianuova è abbastanza vicina al centro storico, ma la sera non c'è movimento. La zona del centro storico è senz'altro tranquilla, e in quanto a eventi o manifestazioni a Ferrara c'è sempre qualcosa da fare o vedere.
Written 9 December 2019
Hi. I will be visiting Ferrara with my wife next month. I will arrive via train from Bologna. I intend to walk from the train station to the city historic centre. what is the best way to arrive there? Is it very far? Can I get tourists guide booklets from the station? What are the best places to visit? How can I reach these places.
Thank you for your time.
Willie Grech
Malta
Written 24 October 2017
It takes about 20 or 30 minutes on foot, taking the avenue Viale Cavour. It leads directly to the castle. The Tourist Office is located just there, inside the castle. Distances aren´t a problem in Ferrara, as most of the interest points are concentrated in a rather small area.
Written 24 October 2017
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