{"id":600,"date":"2019-03-14T14:37:58","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T14:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/?p=600"},"modified":"2019-03-14T14:37:58","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T14:37:58","slug":"renaissance-city-ferrara-and-its-po-delta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/2019\/03\/14\/renaissance-city-ferrara-and-its-po-delta\/","title":{"rendered":"Renaissance city Ferrara and its Po Delta"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Renaissance

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What is the “ideal city”? And what does it look like? The concept of the perfect cityscape has been changing several times over the course of the centuries \u2013 what was right 300 years ago isn\u2019t compatible with contemporary mobility concepts and urban development any more. Toward the end of the 15th<\/sup> century the reigning Este family decided to give Ferrara the first modern planned city centre in the world. The historic Renaissance centre is still regarded as the epitome of humanistic times and, together with the cultivated landscape of the Po Delta, was added to the illustrious UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.<\/p>\n

A taste of Ferrara\u2019s history<\/strong><\/p>\n

In order to fully understand both the unique composition of this World Heritage Site and the reason for building such a city centre, let us first take you on a brief trip into Ferrara\u2019s illustrious history<\/a>. In contrast to many other places, the city in Emilia Romagna doesn\u2019t have any Roman roots whatsoever. Instead it was likely first populated by lagoon dwellers at a river branch in the Po Delta in the 7th<\/sup> century. The region was only silted in the 12th<\/sup> century after a dam failure.<\/p>\n

After Ferrara fell to the noble Este family in 1264, the city blossomed. The establishment of a university and the promotion of fine arts attracted scholars, painters and sculptors to the Po Delta. The number of inhabitants exploded to over 130,000 during Ercole I. d’Este\u2019s reign, the city needed to grow rather urgently. Court architect Biagio Rossetti was instructed to expand and fortify Ferrara like a chessboard from 1490 onward. Building wide and straight roads \u2013 as opposed to the then standard of expanding outward from a city centre \u2013 was a first for Europe back in the day. Incorporating humanistic principles, city-specific requirements and local traditions created the ideal Renaissance city.<\/p>\n

Walk through Ferrara\u2019s historic city centre<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many glorious monuments of architectural grandeur, perfectly connected through the road development projected mentioned above, also known as Addizione Erculea, await you on and around Piazza della Repubblica. You might already be familiar with our extended walk through Ferrara\u2019s Renaissance city centre<\/a> \u2013 a wonderful tour with the most important highlights and sights of the city as well as some attractive insider\u2019s tips. Let us introduce you to some of the most beautiful buildings, churches and palaces.<\/p>\n

San Giorgio<\/strong><\/p>\n

Things don\u2019t always turn out quite the way you expect them to. When constructions of Cattedrale San Giorgio<\/a>, dedicated to the city\u2019s patron saint, began in 1135, the initial plan was to create a Romanesque sacral building. Ultimately, completion of the ambitious project would be delayed by over 200 years bringing you today\u2019s truly fascinating mix and clash of styles with Gothic charm. You\u2019ll discover arcades, rosettes and pinnacles as well as biblical depictions and Este images on the marble fa\u00e7ade. The inside, lined with works by artists from the school of Ferrara, surprises with elements of 17th<\/sup> and 18th<\/sup> century architecture.<\/p>\n

By the way, we cannot recommend a walk around the cathedral highly enough. Among the things you\u2019ll discover is an amazing Campanile and the canopied Loggia dei Merciai, a 15th<\/sup> century line of shops that still houses a few stores. The cathedral museum, however, can be found a few roads down in Via San Romano.<\/p>\n

Castello Estense<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Renaissance

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Why is there a moat in the heart of Ferrara? You\u2019re not the only one asking yourself that. It surrounds Castello Estense<\/a>, the former rulers’ house of the Este. A drawbridge leads you from Piazza Repubblica to the fort, originally intended as a stronghold to protect against potential national uprisings. It was only converted into the ducal residence in the mid-16th<\/sup> century. The ostentatious Este lifestyle feels close enough to touch in the splendid Sale Estensi. A fascinating journey through time ranging from Mannerism frescoes to grim dungeons in the basement awaits you.<\/p>\n

City palaces<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fort and cathedral aside, a number of palaces are virtually beckoning you to sneak a peek inside. Here are some recommendations for your historic city centre tour:<\/p>\n