Welcome to our selection of holiday homes to rent in Ferrara, Italy.
The ancient city of Ferrara is full of historic palaces, fortresses and churches, many dating from the Renaissance period and featuring spectacular works of art by local artists. The main attraction, the large Castello Estense in the centre of Ferrara, has even been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Castello Estense was built in the 14th century and was the residence of members of the Este family, who controlled politics in Ferrara for many decades, and later became the town hall. Surrounded by a moat, it is a very defensive structure, with four large towers, one at each corner, and high ramparts which offer great views over the medieval parts of the town. Many of the rooms still contains original frescoes and furniture and on a sunny day, the orange garden in the castle's courtyard can be a pleasant spot to take a break from sightseeing.
If you want to stretch your legs, then you can walk round the entire original medieval city of Ferrara on the city walls that are still standing centuries after their construction. This 9km route will take you past some of the most impressive buildings in the town on top of the best-preserved Renaissance-era walls in Italy.
There are several Renaissance palaces throughout the streets of medieval Ferrara, including the Diamond Palace, so named because of the shape of the stones used in the construction of the building. One of the most visited private palaces is the Casa Romei, which still boasts many of its original frescoes and fireplaces. Unlike many private residences, which were altered by new owners over the decades, the Casa Romei was inherited by nuns who did little to change the structure.
The town's cathedral is located close to the Castello Estense, and was the work of two architects, working in two centuries; one on the lower part of the building and one on the upper. The interior not only features beautiful examples of religious art, but the original lion sculptures that used to stand at the main entrance. The Corpus Domini Monastery on the outskirts of the old part of Ferrara is home to the tombs of most of the members of the Este family, including famous historical figures such as Lucrezia Borgia and Eleanor of Aragon. Ferrara was also well known for its large and lively Jewish community, and though many signs of their existence were eradicated during the Second World War, one of the synagogues is still standing today and now houses a Jewish Museum.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Ferrara? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Ferrara and villas in Ferrara that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
