La Bella Vita Barge Cruise Photos

From: La Bella Vita Barge Cruise Review

Day 5: Ferrara

On Thursday morning (day 5 of our cruise), we left Bosaro for a short drive to the Renaissance city of Ferrara, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The first stop on our walking tour was a short visit to Castello Estense, which was built as a fortress to protect Ferrara's ruling family from rioters and revolutionaries.

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A local guide gave us a quick introduction to Ferrara, its Renaissance rulers, and the castle.

Ferrara claims to be Italy's most bicycle-friendly city, so we weren't surprised to see large numbers of bikes parked in the castle entrance.

Inside, the courtyard was quiet. (This isn't always true: Castello Estense is popular as a venue for rock concerts.)

As we walked around the castle, we enjoyed views of the moats and surrounding city.

We also admired the pebble paving underfoot. (Tip for visitors to Castello Estense: Wear sensible shoes.)