Europe
Italy
Emilia-Romagna
Province of Ferrara
Ferrara
Things to Do in Ferrara
Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine

Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine, Ferrara

See all things to do

Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine

See all things to do
See all things to do
Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine
4.5
341
#3 of 168 things to do in Ferrara
Religious Sites
Read more
About
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
471 within 3 miles
I Piaceri DI Lucrezia
1,122
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Barbecue
Trattoria le Nuvole
1,292
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Trattoria Antica Maremma
241
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Barbecue
Osteria Strabassotti
408
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Emilian
Quel Fantastico Giovedi
1,058
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Il Sorpasso
699
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • European
Trattoria l'Ortica
628
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Osteria Il Frantoio
339
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Emilian
Cucina Bacilieri
459
0.4 mi$$$$ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Farina del Mio Sacco
911
0.4 mi$ • Italian • Emilian • Northern-Italian
See all
Attractions
155 within 6 miles
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
527
0.2 miSpeciality Museums
Palazzo di Ludovico il Moro (Palazzo Costabili)
84
0.2 miHistoric Sites
Le Mura di Ferrara
1,148
0.3 miHistoric Walking Areas
Chiesa di Santa Maria in Vado
127
0.3 miChurches & Cathedrals
Chiesa di Santa Teresa di Gesu'
2
0.2 miChurches & Cathedrals
Palazzo Schifanoia (Palazzo della Gioia) - World Heritage Site
737
0.3 miHistoric Sites
Museo di Casa Romei
449
0.4 miHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Ex Chiesa dei Santi Simone e Giuda
1
0.2 miReligious Sites
Chiesa dei Santi Giuseppe, Rita e Tecla
3
0.3 miChurches & Cathedrals
Casa di Biagio Rossetti
3
0.3 miHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
341 reviews
Excellent
239
Very good
81
Average
15
Poor
5
Terrible
1
weedsmoore
Montreal, Canada25 contributions
if you like art, music, history, adventure...
Apr 2012 • Solo
A very special place, this convent can only be visited by ringing the bell and having one of the nuns show you the glorious 13th-century frescoes in the old chapel and the wonderful old cithara that accompanies their singing sometimes. If you ask, she'll tell you when to come back to hear them sing, with and without accompaniment. You sit behind a wall, in a baroque chapel, and hear them but don't see them: a most ethereal experience. Beauty everywhere.
Written July 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Diane K
Venice, FL3,692 contributions
Lovely experience
Jun 2019 • Couples
As others have said check the website to confirm the hours the monastery is open. We rang the bell on the door to the right as you enter (see attached Pic). When they ask you what you want - say you want to see the chapel - they buzz the door and you can then open it. A very gracious Benedictine nun showed us around. She spoke in Italian - but since we have a Christian background we could generally make out what she was saying when she showed us around. No pictures were allowed - but we bought a postcard at the end and made a donation. Nice experience.
Written June 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SelbyDale
Saint Paul, MN172 contributions
Lovely in Every Way
May 2018 • Couples
This 17th century Benedictine monastery is the home for a small group of nuns that tend the complex. When you enter the church you will be on the side where one sits for services. On the other side of the grill is the decorated chapels with the beautiful frescoes by the school of Giotto. To see these, you must leave the church and turn immediately to the left where you will see a door with a doorbell. Ring and ask to see the chapel. They will buzz the door, but you must push it open to enter.

A nun will meet you, take you to the church and give you a brief tour in Italian of each of the decorated chapels. You will not have a lot of time in the church. After, you will be taken to the tomb of Beatrice d' Este in the area of the gift shop. Here for sale are the soaps and candles made by the nuns and a box where you can leave a donation.

We timed our visit for the end of the day so that we could attend the daily 17:00 Vespers service in the outer chapel. To see the frescoes, you will need to arrive at the church at least a half hour before closing--any later and you will be turned away.

Hours to view the frescoes:
Monday to Friday: 9.30-11.30/ 15.15-17.00.
Saturday: 9.30-11.30/ 15.15-16.30.
Written May 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
pensione2013
Washington DC, District of Columbia28 contributions
Only fresco in the world
Sep 2013 • Couples
The "monastero" is a convent. You are given a guided tour by one of the sisters. You must ring the bell to the convent and request a tour. The fresco s are from the Giotto school. There is a one of a kind fresco or Christ climbing the ladder to the cross.
Written September 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Maria M
Moscow, Russia422 contributions
Da vedere!
Apr 2019 • Solo
Amazing frescoes! This is a small monastery, and to see the internal church you should ring the bell, one of the nuns will open the door and let you in, guiding to the frescoes. A real hidden gem!
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
pickymissy2015
Oxford, UK31 contributions
A very special atmosphere.
Apr 2017 • Couples
This convent really is a hidden gem with a very special atmosphere and wonderful 500 year old frescoes, the best in Ferrara. It is important to check opening times to avoid disappointment but try and go so that you can attend afternoon vespers, a very short service with the nuns singing Gregorian chants accompanied by a nun playing a very ancient instrument similar in appearance and sound to a zither. The order of nuns is a closed one so they are behind a grill and you will sit in the public chapel. The whole atmosphere will give you goosebumps!
Do just buy a little something, a couple of postcards, or lavender from the garden or give a small donation, it all helps with the upkeep.
Written April 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
ljk_ny_az
NYC65 contributions
Don't miss the School of Giotto frescoes
Sep 2016 • Friends
If you can't get to the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, there are beautiful frescoes here in Giotto's style. Well worth the visit, and there are some lovely gardens too.
Written October 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
debora s
5 contributions
medieval frescoes and gregorian chant
Jun 2016 • Business
The frescoes are magnificent, but perhaps best to research them a bit on your own, and then tell nun who must repeat tour 50x per week that a)you know no Italian, or b)you are familiar with iconography. Do go to the services (4-5 daily); the nuns chant the liturgical hours.
Written June 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
LizTh
Chapel Hill, NC41 contributions
Frescoes up close
Oct 2015 • Solo
The frescoes in the monastery chapel are very reminiscent of those at the Arena Chapel in Padua. They have the same Giotto stylistic pattern of representing events in the life of Christ and other biblical events in distinct sections of the fresco wall. The walls on the sides shielded from the sun are still vibrant after over 500 years and all of the frescoes can be viewed in close proximity since the nun leads visitors directly into each chapel. Do not be deterred if you do not speak Italian; her commentary has sufficient recognizable words to get the jist of the narrative.

If good frescoes are of interest, this destination is a must!
Written November 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BellDavid
London, UK67 contributions
A gem
Aug 2015
This monastery, home to a small group of Benedictine nuns, is a gem. Ring a bell in the corner next to the church and one of the sisters shows you round - frescoes some of which are 500 years old, beautiful choir stalls and a tantalising look into the monastery garden. At 5pm each day you can attend Vespers sitting in the church which is separated from the nuns by a grille- simple Gregorian chant and total peace.
Written August 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 35
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Frequently Asked Questions about Monastero di Sant'Antonio in Polesine