Palazzo Schifanoia, Renaissance art museum in Ferrara, Italy
Palazzo Schifanoia is a Renaissance museum palace in central Ferrara with collections of medieval and early modern art. The rooms are spread across two floors and contain sculptures, ceramics, coins, and paintings from different periods.
The Este family had the palace built in the late 14th century and used it for receptions outside their urban residence. Borso d'Este commissioned leading artists to decorate several halls in the second half of the 15th century.
The frescoes show months of the year with deities, zodiac signs, and scenes from court life in the 15th century. Visitors can admire these wall paintings in a long rectangular room where each scene is divided into three horizontal bands.
The entrance is located on Via Scandiana near the city walls and is accessible for wheelchair users. The visit takes about an hour and works well for a morning or early afternoon.
The name comes from an expression meaning to chase away boredom, as the place was meant as a retreat for relaxation. Part of the original frescoes remained hidden under plaster for centuries and was only rediscovered in the 19th century.
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