HISTORY OF THE CARNIVAL OF FERRARA

The Estense Castle, the main residence of the great noble Este family, Dukes of Ferrara, is the beating heart of the city carnival since the Renaissance.
It was Ercole I d'Este who inaugurated the Ferrarese carnival tradition thanks to the sumptuous events and magnificent banquets organized in the courtyard of the Castle, and above all, thanks to the staging of works by Plautus and Terentius translated into the vernacular starting from 1486. ​​Feasts, his, characterized by the use of impressive and elaborate sets and costumes, which gave an extra touch to the Carnival of Ferrara celebrations.

In the following years, the custom of combining the carnival with shows enriched by magnificent costumes and bizarre masks inside the courtyard of the Castle, became more and more rooted. So much that even today, tradition has it that the groups of districts of the city Palio come together wearing the typical Renaissance disguises, and perform in dances and evocative historical scenes that reproduce episodes of banquets.

The Castle has therefore witnessed from the Renaissance to today, over the years, an infinite number of masked parties and sumptuous atmospheres during the carnival period. Wandering among its arches, in its courtyard and in its halls, ladies, knights, nobles, and jesters.

By staying at our hotel located in a residential area, you can enjoy a perfect tranquility for families and couples, at just 2 km from the city center.

Upon your arrival, ask for information at the reception of the Hotel Lucrezia Borgia, and you will be directed to the best way to reach the Estense Castle and be able to make the most of the two days of Carnival of Ferrara par excellence.