Ferrara

Located in the Emilia-Romagna region and situated centrally in the Po valley, Ferrara is a lively town with something for everyone. It is a great city to explore via walking or bike. It is especially endearing for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and for art enthusiasts, as it features incredible collections of Renaissance art and architecture. In 1995, Ferrara was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the city’s exemplary efforts to preserve its historical Renaissance city center.

As part of the Emilia-Romagna region, this city is part of the historical region that is well known for having one of the oldest universities in the world. It is also known for its regal Renaissance and Romanesque towns, being an agricultural center, having great beach resorts, and for being home to legendary automakers like Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, and more! It is also one of Italy’s wealthiest regions, and has been a trading center since its early Etruscan beginnings.

To see Ferrara is to take a step back into the time of the great masters who contributed to the art movement and legacy of the town, including Piero della Francesca, Jacopo Bellini and Andrea Mantegna, or even the great Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, and Titian. The architectural wonders of the palaces and churches give the city a unique look and feel. The town is quite flat and is considered a “biking city” which is how most people get around. There are some terrific bike trails that take you from the city center out to the different natural sites – lagoons, parks, and marshes – in the surrounding countryside.