It is worthwhile buying the Euro 20 tourist card which not only covers most of the main museums (cathedral museum, piazza diamanté etc) but also allows you to reimburse tourist tax. Otherwise the entrance is 12 Euro. It is quite a sprawl which takes 1.5 to 2 hours to do it justice. The contents are a bit eclectic to say the least. There is a succession of richly frescoed ceilings which are impressive despite showing some damage. The castle incorporate a gallery and a hall with various maps.

I arrived in Ferrara only at five o'clock in the evening and while I was walking to the castle, it closed. I had to limit myself to an external examination. Very sorry. This majestic castle, built by architect Bartolino da Novara by order of the powerful Counts d'Este, was worth a visit. The starting point of the castle was the Lviv Tower, built earlier in 1100. And the original motive of Niccolo II d’Este was afraid after the uprising of the citizens of Ferrara, driven to despair by high taxes and torn apart by his courtier. Novara created a tall castle with four massive towers in 1385. It didn't seem enough to D'Este and the castle was surrounded by a wide moat, which is still there. During working hours, you can even take a boat ride along it. Niccolo's descendants tried not to bring matters to excesses, and the castle gradually began to lose its defensive function and acquire a representative one. Duke of Ferrara Ercole II d’Este entrusted the famous architect, artist Girolamo da Carpi to transform the castle into a comfortable residence. It is Carpi that we owe to the castle in its current form. Looking at the walls, we do not see the battlements of the fortress walls - they were replaced by balustrades. Balconies are built over the towers. From afar, a castle, and closer - already a palace. The only time the castle got hard was during World War II. Emilia Romagna was occupied by the Nazis until April 1945, so the bombs of the Anglo-American aviation almost destroyed the castle. It took a long time to restore it.

A great castle in the middle of the city. Have to say difficult to find parking but worth the effort. Very interesting history to follow helped by all the informative billboards and route map signs. Need 1-2 hours depending on what detail you want to be involved. Great idea to have an April at the square afterwards.