What to see in Ferrara, Italy past Via Mazzini (part 3)
The previous blog post covered the castle and main piazza. Now we move past the piazza, down the main shopping street and on to some key museums.
A quick Insider Tip: You will notice that for museum and even church hours, there is a 3 hour window when things close… those 3 hours are for lunch and rest. Ferrara is full of amazing Italian cuisine and you can’t go wrong when picking a place to eat. Take advantage of those 3 hours and have lunch, dessert, coffee and put your feet up!
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Restaurant Suggestion: Ristorante Cusina e Butega
-Located on Corso Porta Reno, #28 – walk past the clock tower at the end of the Piazza della Cattedrale to reach the restaurant
-Local cuisine with great options for kids and adults
-Open until 3pm for lunch
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What to see in Ferrara continued.
After the castle, cathedral and main squares… continue down Via Mazzini to:
1-Museo di Casa Romei
This is a charming museum with a lovely courtyard, frescoes, art work and stone work. The building was originally the home of a banker in the 15th century! A quiet, nice museum with an interesting history.
Hours and Ticket prices:
-Open 8:30 to 2pm Sunday to Wednesday
-Open 2 to 7:30 Thursday to Saturday
3 Euros for adults, 1.50 Euros for seniors/kids/groups (prices as of 2016)
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2-Museo Riminaldi – Palazzo Bonacossi
Further down the same road where you will visit the Casa Romei, is the Museum of Ancient Art in the Palazzo Bonacossi. The museum is the collection of Cardinal Riminaldi, collected while he was in Rome in the 18th century and donated to Ferrara – his hometown. Honestly I visited this museum as it was included on the MyFe city card. It is pleasant but not terribly exciting, with stuffy paintings, some 17 and 18th century furnishings and sculptures. If you have time, and you have the MyFe card, pop in and take half an hour to look.
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3-Palazzo Schifanoia
This is a magnificent palace that was built for the Este Family as a place to entertain. The name, Schifanoia, means to “banish boredom.” The main attraction is the frescoes painted by various artists on the 1st floor (upstairs) of the “Cycle of Months.” The room is dark but not crowded so you can get close to the walls and see the astounding details, the expressions, and the colors. The seasons are depicted as pageants with Olympian gods presiding over the pageants while being carried on fanciful floats drawn by animals like giant swans. The frescoes were meant to show the order of mankind and nature under the rule of the Duke. It is most interesting, from the creatures, the zodiac symbols, to the elaborate scenes and the quality of the frescos.
Hours and Ticket prices:
-Open 9:30 to 6pm
-Closed Mondays
3 Euros for adults, 2 Euros for seniors/kids/groups (prices as of 2016)
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4-Museo Archeologico Nazionale
This Archeology museum is certainly a gem and a must-see for historical and archeology enthusiasts. The museum is very extensive and you need to allow for a few hours if you plan to study each room. Devoted to the Etruscan city of Spina, the museum exhibits log boats, pottery, bronzes and much more. There is also a lovely garden in the back and the prize room for Renaissance art enthusiasts is the “Treasure Hall.” The last room you will see, separate from the main museum and by the garden, is the Treasure Hall which was probably built as a music room or library. The treasure is the ceiling, a fresco painted by Garofalo. Look up and you will see an amazing feat of perspective for it is as if you are looking up to a balcony where Renaissance faces peer down at you, garlands hang by red ribbons, and a monkey or two play on the railings. It is reminiscent of the Camera degli Sposi by Mantegna in Mantua – which you can read about on another blog post by clicking here.
Hours and Ticket prices:
-Open 9:30 to 5pm
-Closed Mondays
5 Euros for adults, 3 Euros for seniors/kids/groups (prices as of 2016)
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Ferrara is full of amazing collections of art and history.
The next post will feature info on the next spectacular sights to see. Don’t miss a blog post, sign up for a weekly travel blog!
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The Monica Store Blog 