of Emilia Romagna

Passions
Ferrara
2. Hot air balloons overlooking the
City of the d’Este Family
3. Greek Vase, Ferrara National
Archaeological Museum
4. Ferrara Buskers Festival
5. Palio di Ferrara
The city of bicycles
Ferrara gathers 85 kilometres of cycle paths and
120.000 bicycles, and 25% of people travel by bike,
what makes Ferrara one of the cities with the highest
density of bicycles in the world. The bike is
more than a simple means of transport, it is a way
of life. The old town, that is one of the largest in
Europe, cannot be entered by vehicles, and the city’s
thick network of cycle paths consists of enchanting
greenways that develop from the city centre up to
the right banks of the river Po. The city’s most fascinating
itinerary is that revolving around the walls,
a 9-km-long red brick itinerary that surrounds the
entire city centre. The city walls are part of an ancient
defensive system that also includes the rampart
and shaded embankments, as well as bulwarks
of different shapes and ages, embrasures, passages
and entrance gates. The 1526 Angeli Gate was used
by the last Duke of Ferrara in 1598, when the city
was given to the Pope and the d’Este Court moved
to Modena.
Music and Buskers
When the night falls down, Ferrara’s old lamps illuminate
the streets with their dim light, and time
seems to stop. The magic and silence hide the liveliness
of funny gathering places where music marks
the passage of time. The Municipal Theatre, that is
hosted inside an elegant eighteenth-century building,
gives the lovers of classical music and opera
the possibility to attend plenty of amazing events,
while jazz enthusiasts won’t miss the opportunity
to meet at Torrione di San Giovanni, that is cherished
by the city’s ancient walls. In summer, the city
is livened up by the amazing concerts of the famous
reviews “Ferrara Sotto le Stelle” (Ferrara under the
stars) and “Delizie Destate”. At the end of August,
Ferrara Buskers Festival, a famous event gathering
street artists and musicians, attracts large numbers
of visitors from all over the world, who fill the streets
and squares of the old town.
The Greek vases of Spina
Ferrara’s National Archaeological Museum cherishes
prestigious art treasures coming from Spina,
an ancient Etruscan city that has recently been
unearthed during the extensive reclamation works
carried out around the marshes of Comacchio.
Spina, a thriving commercial port, collected people
and goods from all over the world: The abundance
of Attic and Greek utensils and tools found, such as
the big vases depicting mythological scenes, bears
witness to the strict connection the city had with
Greece. Spina also gathers Etruscan bronze items
and locally-produced ceramics. The so-called Sala
degli Ori gathers more than 100 gold, silver, amber
and glass jewels. The archaeological itinerary develops
across the entire province from the educational
exhibition of “Ferraresi” Museum of Stellata
di Bondeno to the Archaeological Civic Museum of
Belriguardo Voghiera, from the tombs of Fadieni al
Verginese to the precious content of the Roman
Ship cherished by Comacchio’s Civic Museum and
the rich archaeological section of Argenta Civic
Museum.
The oldest Palio in the world
During the Renaissance period, the Palio, that
was made official in 1279, became the symbol of
a glorious age. The splendour of the past editions
is celebrated by the frescoes of the famous Hall of
the Months in Palazzo Schifanoia. Since then, some
rituals have undergone slight changes, but celebrations
are still held with the same intensity. Ferrara
is livened up by a month of amazing celebrations,
parades, competitions and tournaments, and the
city’s eight Contrade (districts) compete to win the
precious cloth dedicated to the patron saint, San
Giorgio. For the whole month of May, plenty of people
in period costume liven up the streets of the city
centre, and the acrobatic performances carried out
by flag-throwers in the central Piazza del Municipio
complement the spectacular horse race of Piazza
Ariostea.
1. Cycling across Ferrara, between
the Ducal Palace and the Cathedral
of San Giorgio