Castello Estense, Medieval castle in Ferrara, Italy
The Castello Estense is a Renaissance castle with a square layout and four corner towers, surrounded by a water-filled moat in central Ferrara. The building combines defensive features with grand interior rooms, staircases, and courtyards that reveal different periods of expansion.
Construction began in 1385 under Niccolò II d'Este as a response to civil unrest, with architect Bartolino da Novara leading the design. Over the centuries, it underwent multiple renovations and expansions to reflect new purposes and power structures.
The castle's name links to St Michael: the first stone was laid on 29 September 1385, his feast day, and the fortress is also called Castello di San Michele. In the courtyard, the surviving portraits of Este ancestors, real and legendary, were detached from the upper walls and placed under the east portico.
Visitors can tour the castle during opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday; the entrance is located at the base of one of the four towers. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes since the visit involves many staircases and uneven floors in the historic rooms.
The round stone balls seen around the castle are catapult ammunition, and the wells were dug to supply water in times of drought. In the courtyard portico on the east side hang the damaged but still discernible portraits of the Este ancestors, real and legendary, detached from the upper walls where they once formed a painted gallery.
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