The Easter long weekend has always been a great opportunity to take a trip out of town. If you have chosen to spend Easter in Ferrara this year, you certainly won't regret it!
The city of the Estensi is even more beautiful in spring, when the temperatures aren’t so high yet and wandering around the centre is really pleasant, especially by bike. It is no coincidence that Ferrara has been renamed as the 'Italian city of bicycles', precisely because of the very high percentage of inhabitants who use it for their daily transfers.
If the size of the city is small, there are many things to see and for all tastes. In this article we have collected 3 ideas for spending the Easter long weekend in Ferrara, including guided tours, exhibitions and events not to be missed.
Visit an exhibition at the Palazzo dei Diamanti
Palazzo dei Diamanti is one of the best-known symbols of Ferrara and one of the most famous exhibition venues in the entire region. With its 8500 blocks of white and pink marble, the palace is of great historical, as well as architectural, importance. Its construction was part of the Herculean addition, the expansion of the historical centre ordered by Hercules I in 1492 and never fully completed.
Today Palazzo dei Diamanti is the venue for very interesting art exhibitions; just visit the official website to discover the current ones and spend part of your Easter weekend in the name of culture.
Take part in the Homage to the Duke at the Castello Estense
For a deep dive in history, why not participate in the Homage to the Duke? This is an event that takes place every year in the courtyard of the Estense Castle, another treasure of the historical centre of Ferrara, not by chance declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
During the homage, one can witness a re-enactment of the 15th-century ceremony in which the eight city districts brought their duke handicrafts and local products as gifts. The ceremony was followed by the Palio, a tradition still deeply felt in Ferrara.
The ladies, knights, jesters and flag-wavers will enliven your day with dances and performances, so you can fully immerse yourself in the splendour of Renaissance Ferrara.
Visiting the city by bike
Have you ever visited a city on a bicycle? Riding through Ferrara on two wheels allows you to admire the best-known monuments, travelling past ancient mediaeval buildings and extraordinary Renaissance architecture. What's more, you will feel like a local!
With our agency you can take part in a 2-hour bike tour that will first take you to the Cathedral of San Giorgio, with its marvellous three-spire façade in Romanesque and Gothic comment.
You will then stop at the most symbolic places of the Este government, lords of Ferrara for more than three centuries (from 1264 to 1598), such as the Municipal Palace and the aforementioned Estense Castle, surrounded by a moat full of water.
Thanks to the Este family, during the Renaissance Ferrara was a favourite destination for renowned artists and poets such as Ludovico Ariosto. They also promoted of the reorganisation of the current historical centre and the construction of the Palazzo dei Diamanti.
The latter is a must-see on your tour, as are the Jewish ghetto and the fascinating Via delle Volte, one of the city's most characteristic streets. If you are looking for an original idea to spend Easter in Ferrara, all you have to do is contact us!