Don’t miss the medieval dungeons of Castello Estense, a moated structure in the center of the city. The castle was begun in the 14th century, after a violent riot convinced Nicollo II d’Este, a local nobleman, that his palace was no longer sufficiently protected to guarantee his family’s safety. Construction began in 1385 under the direction of architect Bartolino da Novara, and a wooden passageway soon linked the Este family’s old residence to the new castle, allowing residents to flee from one to the other. Though many of its sections are now used as government offices, you can still visit the castle’s cross-vaulted living rooms, court kitchens, chapels, and the claustrophobic dungeons, which were once used as prison cells and torture chambers. The site also includes a small cafe and a bookshop. Our Ferrara trip itinerary maker makes visiting Castello Estense and other Ferrara attractions simple, and helps you make a travel plan personal to you.
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Tours to Castello Estense
Castello Estense reviews
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The castle itself looks better from outside than it is inside. Lots and lots of empty rooms, with explanations on panels that become tedious to read after a while. Endless sequence of rooms. The...
The castle itself looks better from outside than it is inside. Lots and lots of empty rooms, with explanations on panels that become tedious to read after a while. Endless sequence of rooms. The... more »
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Beautiful well maintained castle in the middle of the town, free admission to most parts and well worth a walk through.
Beautiful well maintained castle in the middle of the town, free admission to most parts and well worth a walk through. more »
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It is nice to visit castles when there is one around. It helps understand how the area grew around it. This one includes a lot of explanations. I just regret that the inside does not include any furniture. The castle in itself is well preserved, not as good as others that I visited in France but it is worth a visit. If we could have a service with human guides, I would go for it. It just makes such a huge difference about what you learn and how you enjoy the tour. The temporary painting exhibition was just great. The price is high though (14€ including the tower). I recommend to visit the tower to get a scenic vie of the city.
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A marvellous massive castle with amazing view and great coffee served inside. Interior is very interesting as well with attractive wall drawings. It's definitely a must visit as the whole town of Ferrara is which feels like a live medieval museum.
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