Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DON'T MISS
FERRARA'S CITY WALLS
Only Lucca in Tuscany can claim a more complete set of walls than Ferrara, though with a total cir-
cumference of 9km, Ferrara's are longer. Adorned with a well-marked set of paths, unbroken on the
northern and eastern sections, the walls make an idyllic walking or cycling loop.
Festivals & Events
Il Palio
(
www.paliodiferrara.it
)
On the last Sunday of May each year, the eight
contrade
(districts) of
Ferrara compete in a horse race that momentarily turns Piazza Ariostea into medieval bed-
lam. Claimed to be the oldest race of its kind in Italy, the first official competition was
held in 1279.
HORSE RACING
Sleeping
Hotel Astra
( 0532 20 60 88;
www.astrahotel.info
;
Viale Cavour 55; s/d €59/85; )
An old dame in need
of a bit of Botox, Astra can still cut it with the budget-minded thanks to spacious rooms,
equally ample bathrooms, voluminous (for Italy) breakfasts, and plenty of downstairs
seating space where the antediluvian furniture is doing its best to look antiquelike. The
centro storico
is within strolling distance and the station is close enough to drag your suit-
case.
HOTEL
€
Student's Hostel Estense
HOSTEL
€
(
0532 20 11 58;
www.ostelloferrara.it
; Corso Biagio Rossetti 24; dm/s/d/tr incl breakfast €16/35/40/48;
)
Ferrara's hostel has classic hostel rooms plus extras like geothermal hot water, a
bar, a back patio and fantastic amenities for cyclists (bike pumps, a maintenance area and
a bike-storage zone).
Albergo Annunziata
HOTEL
€€
