Street musicians, free performances and the excitement of never knowing who is going to perform around the corner: buskers’ festivals are gaining popularity worldwide and attract thousands of visitors no matter where they take place. Ferrara, one of Emilia Romagna’s picture-perfect medieval towns, has been hosting one since 1987 which today has become nothing short of a roaring success that sees 800,000 visitors and 1000 artists from more than 35 countries.
This year, too, Ferrara will host the festival from August 22nd to the 23rd and then from the 25th to the 30th: from 6 pm to midnight visitors can enjoy a unique way to get to know this beautiful town while listening to great tunes from gifted street artists. From rock folk, from jazz to blues, the streets will be filled with music and the variety of the performances is so wide, in one night festival goers can see a mind boggling number of different shows and genres. Along with musicians, other performers such as acrobats, jugglers living statues and portrait artists will entertain the crowds, making the Ferrara Buskers’ Festival ideal also for those who are traveling with children. For more information on the festival, pictures and contacts visit : http://www.ferrarabuskers.com/en/
The Buskers’ Festival isn’t the only reason to pay a visit to Ferrara: the town is still surrounded by more than 9 kilometres (about 6 miles) of ancient walls, dating back to the 15th and 16th-centuries which, along with those of Lucca in Tuscany, are the best preserved Renaissance walls in Italy. Unlike other towns, Ferrara features a large number of palazzos from the 1400s, showcasing stunningly beautiful terracotta decorations.
The impressive brick castle Castello Estense – located in the very center of the town – is Ferrara’s most iconic monument: built in 1385, it is surrounded by a moat with four massive bastions, and it once was the residence of the D’Este family, Dukes of Ferrara.. Close by you will find the former Cathedral of St. George: the lower part of its façade, in Romanesque style was completed in 1135, while the upper part dates back to the 13th century. Nearby is the University of Ferrara: its library houses part of the original manuscript of the Orlando Furioso along with several letters by Torquato Tasso. The campus is also home to the University of Ferrara Botanical Gardens, originally established in 1771 and showcasing about 1300 species in its greenhouse (243 m²), and some 700 species outdoors. Among the finest palaces in Town, the Palazzo dei Diamanti houses the National Picture Gallery, with a large collection of the school of Ferrara, which first rose to prominence in the second half of the 1400s.
The Casa Romei is perhaps the best preserved Renaissance building in Ferrara, with incredible frescos cycles and an original terracotta fireplace bearing the coat of arms of Giovanni Romei. The Ferrara Synagogue and Jewish Museum are in the heart of the medieval center, close to the cathedral and the Castello Estense, in a brick building from the 1400s: the street was once part of the Jewish in which the Jews were separated from the rest of the population of Ferrara from 1627 to 1859.
Emilia Romagna is known for being home to one of the best cuisines in Italy and Ferrara is no exception: its cooking tradition is characterized by many dishes that can be traced back to the Middle Ages and it often reveals the influence of its important Jewish community. Don’t leave town without trying cappellacci di zucca, large ravioli with a filling pumpkin, Parmesan cheese a dash of nutmeg, served with abundant browned butter and sage. And while meat lovers will definitely enjoy the Salama da sugo – a one-year-old dry salami made from a special selection of pork meat, spices and red wine – keep in mind that seafood, too, is an important part of the town tradition: grilled or stewed eel from the river Po delta is a local favorite.
Ferrara can be easily reachable by car from the A13 highway Bologna-Brennero or by train from the Bologna and Venice train stations. The closest airports are the Bologna Marconi Airport (about one hour), Verona Villa Franca (1.5 hours) and Venezia Marco Polo (2 hours) .
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