Ferrara’s hidden gems start a few steps from Castello Estense: an oval carriage courtyard inside the Teatro Comunale, Lucrezia Borgia’s tomb in the choir of a Poor Clares convent, a monastery where the nuns let you in when you ring the bell. All are open to the public, often free or by donation, but hours are short.<\/p>\n
Hours are approximate (24-hour clock), checked in October 2026: confirm on official websites.<\/p>\n
The Este family ruled Ferrara until 1598 and left more churches, convents and palaces than a one-day visit can cover. Some are working monasteries that open only a few hours a day.<\/p>\n
Others reopened recently after long restorations: the church of San Paolo in 2024, the Palazzina Marfisa d’Este in 2025.<\/p>\n
At Via Pergolato 4, the choir of the Poor Clares holds the tombs of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfonso I d’Este, Eleonora d’Aragona and Alfonso II. The Monastery of Corpus Domini opens Monday to Friday, 15:30-17:30, by donation.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1257 by the Blessed Beatrice II d’Este and still home to nuns, it has 3 chapels with frescoes by followers of Giotto from the early 1300s. Ring the bell. Open Monday to Saturday 9:30-11:30 and 15:15-16:45, Sunday afternoons only.<\/p>\n
Tradition says that on Easter Sunday 1171 blood spurted from the host during Mass and stained the vault above the altar. That vault is kept in a small 1594 shrine in the right transept of Biagio Rossetti’s basilica, at Borgovado 3. Weekdays 8:30-12:30 and 15:30-19:00.<\/p>\n
At Corso Porta Reno 60, the church of San Paolo holds the tombs of the humanist Guarino Veronese and the composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi; its bell tower is the medieval Torre dei Leuti. Open Friday and Saturday 9-12 and 16-19, Sunday 10-12 and 16-18.<\/p>\n
Inside the Teatro Comunale is an oval courtyard designed by Cosimo Morelli for carriages. Today the Rotonda Foschini is pedestrian and hosts exhibitions and events: walk in from one of the two street passages and look up.<\/p>\n
At Corso Giovecca 170, this 16th-century residence built by Francesco d’Este passed to his daughter Marfisa: a loggia painted with vines, period furniture, an Italian garden, English audio guides. Tuesday to Sunday 9:30-13 and 15-18; full ticket 6 euros.<\/p>\n
The poet lived at Via Ariosto 67 from 1529 until his death in 1533; the inscription \u201cParva sed apta mihi\u201d (small, but right for me) is still on the facade. It also houses the Giorgio Bassani Foundation. Free entry, Tuesday to Sunday 10-12:30 and 16-18.<\/p>\n
Two brief notes. Casa Romei, a 15th-century mansion on Via Savonarola, is under restoration with limited openings. Via delle Volte, with its medieval hanging arches, starts from Corso Porta Reno, San Paolo’s street.<\/p>\n
Opposite the cathedral, by the Volto del Cavallo arch, the column under Borso’s statue alternates pink marble and white stone. After an 18th-century fire it was rebuilt partly with Jewish tombstones, rediscovered in 1960: read the story of the column and the tombstones<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the far end of Corso Giovecca, the Prospettiva arch (Francesco Mazzarelli, 1703) acts as a stage backdrop for the avenue. See it from a distance.<\/p>\n The Certosa di Ferrara, at Via Borso 1, was founded in 1452 as a Carthusian monastery by Borso d’Este and has been the city’s monumental cemetery since the 1800s: curved marble and terracotta arcades and the tombs of Borso, director Michelangelo Antonioni and painter Filippo de Pisis.<\/p>\n The church of San Cristoforo, attributed to Biagio Rossetti, has reopened after the 2012 earthquake: daily from 8:45, closing at 17:15 in summer and 16:45 in winter. Address and directions are on the page about the Certosa monumental cemetery<\/a>.<\/p>\n Go on a Friday, the only day when everything here is open. Churches and the Certosa in the morning, Casa Ariosto before 12:30, monasteries between 15:15 and 17:30. Ferrara is flat, so a bike links the stops easily.<\/p>\n In June, after sunset, cycle into the countryside: the secret place of the fireflies<\/a> is a dirt road where Via C\u00e0 Bruciate meets Via Stornara.<\/p>\n Hotel Annunziata is at Piazza della Repubblica 5, in the pedestrian zone opposite Castello Estense. At the entrance, the Art Digital Wall, 4 screens with images and videos of the city, suggests unplanned visits.<\/p>\nThe Certosa and the monumental cemetery<\/h2>\n
How to plan an off-the-beaten-path walk or bike ride<\/h2>\n
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\n \nPlace<\/th>\n What to see<\/th>\n Approximate hours<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Corpus Domini<\/td>\n Tombs of Lucrezia Borgia and the Este family<\/td>\n Mon-Fri 15:30-17:30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sant’Antonio in Polesine<\/td>\n Giotto-school frescoes<\/td>\n Mon-Sat 9:30-11:30, 15:15-16:45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Santa Maria in Vado<\/td>\n Shrine of the Miraculous Blood<\/td>\n Weekdays 8:30-12:30, 15:30-19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Church of San Paolo<\/td>\n Tombs, Torre dei Leuti<\/td>\n Fri-Sat 9-12, 16-19; Sun 10-12, 16-18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rotonda Foschini<\/td>\n Oval carriage courtyard<\/td>\n Pedestrian space, no published hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Palazzina Marfisa d’Este<\/td>\n Loggia, furniture, garden<\/td>\n Tue-Sun 9:30-13, 15-18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Casa Ariosto<\/td>\n The poet’s house<\/td>\n Tue-Sun 10-12:30, 16-18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Certosa and San Cristoforo<\/td>\n Arcades, tombs, church<\/td>\n Church 8:45-17:15 (winter 16:45)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n Where to stay to explore secret Ferrara by bike<\/h2>\n