Castle d'Este

The castle was built in 1385 and was for many years the main residence of the D’Este dynasty. For almost a century, in 1431-1506, the castle was the center of the Ferrara school of painting, which is characterized by late Gothic and Renaissance trends.

The lower tier of the castle is a protective structure, which looks appropriate - quite concise and rough. But the upper floors are distinguished by great elegance, they are decorated with magnificent white-stone balconies by da Capri of the XV century. In addition, over the balconies, the Italian built another floor, and turned the towers into spacious bright terraces.

For a long time the castle belonged to the Dukes of Este, but after they moved to Modena, the building became the residence of the papal legates. In the middle of the XIX century, the magnificent structure passed into the ownership of the state, and later the Prefecture of Ferrara used the castle as its headquarters.

Castle d’Este is the calling card of Ferrara. Therefore, in 1999, at the initiative of the local authorities, the project “Castle for the City” was launched, which assumed a total reconstruction of the structure - after all, the military actions of the 40s did not spare it. The work was completed only in 2006, although in 2002 the residents and guests of the city were presented with an art exhibition located within the walls of the castle - "Este in Ferrara".

The castle is surrounded by an artificial moat, through which three drawbridges are thrown.