palazzo dei diamanti
by Azhut
From the web
"The construction of Palazzo dei Diamanti (Diamonds' Palace) was ordered by Sigismondo d'Este around 1493 and is definitely the masterpiece of the court architect and town-planner Biagio Rossetti. It takes its name from the 8,500 "diamonds" which form the marble rustication of the original facing. Situated at the junction of two main roads of the "Addizione", the building symbolises the prestige and glory of the House of Este, but is also intended to emphasise the importance of the cross-roads itself. The Palazzo was designed for a diagonal vision and it focal point is therefore the corner, embellished by the splendid candelabras sculpted by Gabriele Frisoni and the attractive small balcony.
The palast houses the National Art Gallery on the first floor and the Gallery of Modern Art on the ground floor".
Most shops close from 1 PM to 4 PM
by Elainehead
Unfortunately we arrived between that time and had to wait until 4 PM to do some shopping... In the meantime, we walked a bit through the historic city and wondered where all these people riding their bicycles go to...
Il Palio di San Giorgio: Girls’ Race
by von.otter
Next came the girls, putte, foot race; it is known as il Palio di San Paolo. From Borgo San Benedetto Giorgia Mancin was the winner.
Following the race the scene of celebration was repeated. The excitement was contagious; it was impossible not to be happy for the winning contrada.
There was once a women’s race until Duke Borso banned it because prostitutes entered in droves and unseemly incidents followed.
Monument ?
by prleprle
On our way from railway station to town centre we found this interesting monument, made few pictures, walk around but couldn't find what's that really. I check later in some guides of Ferrara and... couldn't find. Could somebody tell me what's that?
Este Castle
by kedi+
The castle was built in 1385 by Bartolino da Novara, commissioned by Niccolò II, to defend the d'Este family against uprisings, and was joined to the Palazzo Ducale by a covered and elevated passageway still in existence. From the 16th century onwards it became the new court residence, involving radical changes in the structure of the fortress, such as the replacement of the merlons with marble balustrades, the building of the roof-terraces on the towers, the addition of a storey and creation of spacious apartments. It thus acquired the unmistakable appearance which still remains today.
Inside you can visit the old kitchens, where the signs of the large fireplaces used for the preparation of the famous banquets by Messer Messisbugo can still be seen, the prisons, where the unfortunate lovers Ugo and Parisina were incarcerated before being killed, and, on the first floor the Loggia, the "Orange Garden", the Saletta dei Baccanali, the Chapel of Renée of France, wife of Ercole II, the Sala dell'Aurora, with frescoes representing the four parts of the day, and the Saletta and Sala dei Giochi, with scenes of games and sports. All the frescoes are the 16th-century works of Camillo, Cesare and Sebastiano Filippi and of their assistants.
il Palio di San Giorgio, Ferrara, May 2010
Palio di San Giorgio, Ferrara, May 2010
Palio di San Giorgio, Donkey Race, Ferrara, 5/2010
Palio di San Giorgio, Bambini, Ferrara, May 2010
