Ferrara

Ferrara, city in northern Italy, capital of Ferrara Province, in the Emilia-Romagna region on the Po River. Surrounded by broad tracts of fertile land, much of it reclaimed from marshes, Ferrara is an agricultural marketing centre with many food-processing establishments. Other goods manufactured here include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.

During the Renaissance Ferrara was the capital of the dukes of Este, whose court was a brilliant centre of learning, literature, and the arts. The University of Ferrara was founded by Alberto V d'Este in 1391; in its library are manuscripts by the poets Ludovico Ariosto and Torquato Tasso, both of whom enjoyed Este patronage. Paintings by artists of the Ferrara school, which flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries, hang in the Renaissance building called the Palazzo dei Diamanti (Italian “diamond palace”). The Este castle, begun in 1385, is a fine example of medieval military architecture.

The Este family became rulers of Ferrara in 1208 and maintained power until 1598, when, for lack of a male heir in the direct line of descent, the city was claimed by the pope and joined to the Papal States. In 1861 it became part of the kingdom of Italy. Bombing during World War II caused considerable damage. Ferrara was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Population (1990 estimate) 140,600.