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The Estensi "Delights"
Roaming around in the open air
The Ferrara district is perfect for open-air tourists thanks to its natural beauty, made up of unspoilt sea and land environments in the Po Delta Park and sculpted and forged in the rest of the immense plain by human beings, who have left priceless works of art in the city itself and the surrounding countryside.
The roads run either along the side of winding rivers or else along the straighter banks of drained fields, and are meant to be covered slowly, offering as they do lots of opportunities to stop, relax and observe the surroundings.
History and Culture
The architectural wealth of the city and the surrounding district began in the Renaissance period with the Estense court. Hydro-geological works were carried out in a context of harmonious and virtuous development.
The "Addizione Erculea" (town extension made by Ercole I), the Castle, the Cathedral Bell Tower, the Buildings, the Churches, the Walls...
Signs of the Estensi family are also to be found in the countryside, with the famous 'delizie' (literally 'delights'), imposing aristocratic summer residences. The ancient splendour relives today in a new Renaissance, where art, culture and quality of life are fully enjoyed as a value and a refined resource. The city and the Estensi "delights", along with the Po Delta Park, have been appointed by UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Events
From February to May, the prestigious Civic Theatre hosts a great Concert Season in which conductor Claudio Abbado plays a lead role. In May, the ancient Palio is staged with side events throughout the month. In the summer, cultural events are staged in the city's most important monuments:on 21 June the Summer Solstice Festival and in July, in Piazza Castello, the well-known Contemporary Music Festival. In August comes the Ferrara Buskers Festival, in September the Estense Week, in October the Ferrara Mineral event; in December, besides the Christmas markets, also a Vintage Car and Motorcycle Mart and an Antique Fair. At Cento, the famous European Carnival is held for four Sundays between February and March. Then come exhibitions, concerts and music performances in the Delizie Destate event at Rocca Stellata, Mesola Castle, Pomposa Abbey, Castle of the Verginese, Delizia del Belriguardo, Cento Fortress. At the end of July, a Historical Regatta is run at Lido degli Estensi and Lido di Spina.
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Sea and Nature
The Ferrara district, with all its variety and appeal, is the joint work of nature and human beings. The Po and its alluvial plain play a big part in its conformation. The river and its sediments have sculpted the countryside and coast. Great civil works have harnessed the waters and reclaimed the land. These started with the Estensi family to defend their estates and boost the local economy. When the draining pump was invented (1851), many of the lower tracts of land were drained and put under crops so that Ferrara became Italy's largest wheat growing area at the end of the 19th century.
While inland, the work of man was more incisive, leaving few signs of the original natural environment made up of thick oak, elm, poplar and ash woodland, as well as freshwater wetlands called "valli" (lagoons), the coast continued, to a greater extent, to retain its original condition, with large dunes, pinewood forests and saltwater lagoons that end in typical sandy beaches.
Today, the most prized natural areas, along with a number of historical and monumental contexts, are part of the Po Delta Regional Park, which stretches into the province of Ravenna and represents Italy's largest wetland area.
Fragrances and Flavours
Farming traditions and those of the Estense Court have produced some highly original, top-quality gastronomic dishes. From so-called "humble" food like bread, which in Ferrara became the elegant and aristocratic "coppia", to elaborate pasta dishes such as cappellacci filled with pumpkin and maccaroni pie, a real culinary triumph. For those who like strong flavours, Ferrara is home to the salama da sugo and traditional sweet pampepato. On the coast, the table is enriched with extraordinary products; the eel of the saltwater lagoons reigns supreme, along with giant clams, molluscs and crustaceans of all types, and fresh fish from Goro, Porto Garibaldi, on sale straight from the boats or in the traditional markets.
The D.O.C. wines of Bosco Eliceo complete the table superbly.
Open-air activities
The entire Po Delta Park area is criss-crossed by numerous nature trails to be covered on foot, by bike, on horseback, by canoe, by boat, by houseboat, combining excursions with bird-watching.
There are also lots of cycling trails. One of the best is the route on the right bank of the river Po, which goes from the Rocca Possente fortress in Stellata to Gorino and is 125 km long; it can however be split up into sections and bikes can also be transported by train. Mention must also be made of the three golf courses of Ferrara, Argenta and Cento.
Water and beach sports are also big attractions: sea angling, sailing, windsurfing and beach volley.
Click the itineraries above to discover the Province of Ferrara amidst art, culture and nature.
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