18/06/2021 - Bologna - Ferrara - Santa Margherita

In the morning, we drove from Bologna to Ferrara. We parked near the car-free center and explored the city on foot. Ferrara originated in the early Middle Ages and its current structure dates back to the 14th century when the city was ruled by the Este family. The expansion of the city center, designed by the court architect at the time, is considered the world's first modern urban planning, and the historic city center is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We started our city tour at the Palazzo Municipale. Today, the palace serves as the town hall. However, until the 16th century, it was the residence of the D'Este family until they moved their court to the neighboring Castello Estense. The new residence of the family is an impressive 14th-century water castle with a chapel, prison, museum, and magnificent private chambers, which we also visited. The city was very lively as it was market day at Piazza Trento e Trieste. On our way through the medieval streets with brick houses, we also passed by the Cathedral of Ferrara. It dates back to the 12th century and is adorned with an ornate 3-story marble facade. Nearby is Al Brindisi, the oldest tavern in the world. It was already open to men who built the cathedral in 1100 and was first mentioned in writing in 1435. The old town is surrounded by a 9-kilometer-long defensive wall. You can probably walk around the city along this wall, but honestly, it was too hot for us to do so. So we continued walking through the narrow alleys, along bumpy cobblestones, and arrived at Via delle Volte, one of the most beautiful streets in the city, with many arches and passages. To conclude our visit, we treated ourselves to a delicious meal at Ristorante Olivia in Rosa. In the afternoon, we continued by car to Santa Margherita, where we will spend the next 2 nights.