Direct · 3 hr 29
The moat and towers of Castello Estense recall its days as the residence of Ferrara’s dukes.
Estimated journey times
The moated Castello Estense was the residence of the Este dukes and remains at the centre of Ferrara’s historic plan. North along Corso Ercole I d’Este, the faceted Palazzo dei Diamanti, designed by Biagio Rossetti from 1493, anchors the Renaissance Addizione Erculea expansion.
Ferrara’s brick city walls form a broad green circuit around the centre. Inside, Palazzo Schifanoia is known for the Salone dei Mesi, whose 15th-century fresco cycle links courtly imagery with the calendar. These places show how planning, power and art shaped the city together.
