Why Ferrara in Northern Italy Is Definitely Worth a Visit

October 15, 2025, 8:50 am | Read time: 2 minutes

Venice, Verona, Bologna—those visiting northern Italy often focus on the most famous cities and may be disappointed by the crowds of other tourists. Yet, there are many cities that are beautiful but less well-known. For example, Ferrara in Emilia-Romagna.

Since 1995, Ferrara has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic center has been almost completely preserved since the 14th century. At that time, the city on the banks of the Po in Emilia-Romagna was considered the most modern in the world. Architect Biagio Rossetti redesigned it entirely on behalf of the ruling Este family. Another unique feature: In the historic center, visitors can only move around on foot or by bicycle.

Ferrara is considered one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Italy

Sights in Ferrara

In the middle of Ferrara’s old town stands the water-surrounded Castello Estense with its four defensive towers. To the south lies Piazza Savonarola with the Palazzo Comunale from the 13th century. The city center, with its numerous Renaissance palaces—such as the Palazzo dei Diamanti and the Palazzo Schifanoia—is surrounded by a completely intact city wall.

Other spectacular sights include the National Archaeological Museum in Palazzo Costabili, the Cathedral of Ferrara, built between the 12th and 14th centuries at Piazza della Cattedrale, and the university campus. The University of Ferrara, near the cathedral and the banks of the Po, is one of the oldest in Europe.

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Major Events in Ferrara

One of the major attractions in Ferrara is the annual Palio at the end of May—a historic horse race in the middle of the old town, similar to those in Siena and Asti. Riders compete in Renaissance costumes. Also of interest to visitors is the Ferrara Buskers Festival, which is always celebrated in the last week of August.

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Getting There

The nearest airports are Bologna and Treviso. By car, Ferrara is most quickly reached via the highway from Padua to Bologna. By train, Ferrara is particularly accessible from Bologna and Venice. There is also a direct connection to the capital at Stazione Roma Termini.

Text contribution: Jasch Zacharias

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.