Ferrara Castles & Stately Homes
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide to Castles & Stately Homes in Ferrara, FE, Emilia-Romagna.
The Palace of Diamonds, named for the shape of the stones adorning its facade, was once the home of Ferrara's first family. Built for Sigismondo d'Este in the 15th century, the mansion now houses a fine collection of art.
Castello Estense
The huge Castello Estense now houses government offices, but several rooms have been preserved in their original state for public viewing. Some rooms have walls superbly frescoed, and there is even a cold and creepy dungeon, where any opponent of the d'Este dynasty was likely to end up.
Casa Romei
The infamous Lucrezia Borgia, whose father, Pope Alexander VI, ran the most corrupt court in Italian history, spent several years in Ferrara with her husband, Alphonso d'Este, otherwise known as Prince of Ferrara. She spent what seems to be among the more contented days of her life within the walls of the Casa Romei, which is an example of a typical residence for Renaissance nobility.
