Palazzo Bonacossi, Renaissance palace in Ferrara, Italy

Palazzo Bonacossi is a Renaissance palace located on Via Cisterna del Follo with a central tower crowned by battlements and two raised wings at its rear. The building now houses a museum displaying works from different periods for visitors to view.

The palace was built in 1468 for Florentine exile Diotisalvi Neroni who sought refuge in Ferrara. Two centuries later, Count Bonacossi updated the building with Baroque features to match the tastes of his era.

The palace now holds the Musei Civici di Arte Antica and the Museo Riminaldi, whose sculptures, tapestries and mosaics from the 17th and 18th centuries come largely from the collection of Cardinal Gian Maria Riminaldi (1718-1789). The cardinal's first public museum collection is now shown in the museum route of Palazzo Schifanoia.

The palace entrance is at Via Cisterna del Follo 5, a short walk from the city's historic centre. The museum offices and library occupy the building, so some rooms may be closed to visitors. The central courtyard, attributed to Girolamo da Carpi, is the main architectural feature to look for.

Under the Baroque ceilings of four rooms, a recent restoration brought to light 16th-century wooden coffered ceilings painted with simple geometric motifs in tempera. The palace also housed Cardinal Giovanni Maria Riminaldi's collection, the city's first public museum collection, now displayed at Palazzo Schifanoia.