My tourism and selfie-taking influencers are hard to find in Ferrara. The city stands in the slipstream of its sister Bologna and is still an insider tip for those who want to visit the real Emilia-Romagna. In fact, Ferrara did not originate from the Romans, but was created in the Middle Ages. Magnificent palaces, impressive buildings, frescoes, galleries and museums make this city of over 130,000 women and men the favorite of every Italy fan. Emilia was born and raised here and could never imagine cheating on her home country with another. Your tips for Ferrara? Charming and compactly packaged to take away. Read more.
Credit: Horti Della Fasanara
Hotels in Ferrara
The walls of the Maxxim Hotel date back to the 17th century. Century. Here you go to bed in awe and feel like you’ve been transported to another time. Antique furniture and the spirit of times gone by can be found in the Princess Art Hotel, and the Hotel De Prati is a meeting place for local artists who regularly exhibit their work here. For those who prefer minimalism, stay at Borgoleoni 18, and for those who want to dig a little deeper into their pockets: Horti Della Fasanara, a restored villa in the former game reserve of Estense Castle.
Maxxim Hotels, Via Ripagrande, 21, Italy, https://maxxim.it/
Princess Art Hotel, Via Mascheraio, 39, Italy, https://princessferrara.it
De Prati, Via Padiglioni, 5, Italy, http://www.hoteldeprati.com
Borgoleoni 18, Via Borgo dei Leoni, 18, Italy, https://borgoleoni18.it/de/home
Horti Della Fasanara, Via delle Vigne, 34, Italy, http://www.hortidellafasanara.com
Restaurants in Ferrara
Close to the cathedral is Chocolat, one of the best places for a good breakfast. The coffee tastes good, and we forget all about summer diets for the sweet croissants with pistachio filling. For a quick and inexpensive lunch, head to Farina Del Mio Sacco, a hidden restaurant serving piadina that has never left anyone hungry. If there is still room: order Tenerina, the famous chocolate cake, so delicious! Al Brindisi was already serving guests in 1435 and is therefore considered the oldest wine bar in the world. The information alone is enough to stop by for a glass. Cusina e Butega is a traditional restaurant in the city center that serves the best homemade pumpkin cappellacci, a specialty of the region. Pizza? Always works! The Este Bar serves really good wines, and the steak (and its price) is no coincidence.
Chocolat, Via Cortevecchia, 55, Italy, https://chocolat-ferrara.it/categoria-prodotto/cioccolateria/
Farina Del Mio Sacco, Via Saraceno, 30, Italy, https://www.farinadelmiosaccoferrara.it
Al Brindisi, Via Adelardi, 11, Italy, https://www.albrindisi.net
Cusina e Butega, Corso Porta Reno, 28, Italy, https://www.cusinaebutega.com/it/
Este Bar, Via delle Scienze, 13/15, Italy, https://www.estebar1975.com
Stores in Ferrara
Via Mazzini has all the stores that make shopaholics happy. Birra Mitica produces craft beer that is second to none, while Storie di Te e Caffee offers specialties for coffee and tea fans.
Birra Mitica, Via Carlo Cattaneo, 74/76, Italy, https://www.birramitica.it
Storie di Te e Caffee, Via S. Romano, 103, Italy, https://www.storiediteecaffe.com
Credit: Picture Alliance
Legend: Snapshot of the façade of the Palazzo dei Diamanti.
8,500 marble blocks pave the façade of the Palazzo dei Diamanti and give it its name. Even more impressive than the exterior: the gallery inside, whose works date back to the Middle Ages, but contemporary art can also be seen here. If you visit Ferrara, be sure to stop by the Castello Estense, whose story of a marquis and his 1,000 concubines is almost more exciting than the building itself. It’s worth traveling from Ferrara to Bologna, as the journey takes just under half an hour.
Must Do
Palazzo dei Diamanti, Corso Ercole I d’Este, 21, Italy, https://www.palazzodiamanti.it
Castello Estense, L.go Castello, 1, Italy, https://www.castelloestense.it/it
Events
European Union Youth Orchestra
25.03.
Classical music in the Ferrara Municipal Theatre, whose interior takes your breath away.
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