Experience the best of Ferrara

Ferrara was the seat of the Este family, whose court made it one of the centres of the Italian Renaissance, and its moated Castello Estense stands in the middle of the city. The cathedral has a striking marble façade, the Palazzo dei Diamanti is covered in diamond-pointed stone, and the Palazzo Schifanoia has frescoes of the months. The old centre is a World Heritage site.

Almost nine kilometres of Renaissance walls, mostly intact, circle the city and form a path for walking and cycling, and Ferrara is one of Italy's most bicycle-friendly cities. The medieval Via delle Volte runs under high arches. The Po delta, a park of lagoons and reedbeds where birds gather, lies to the east, with the canals of Comacchio and the abbey of Pomposa on the way.

Cappellacci di zucca, pasta stuffed with pumpkin, salama da sugo, a spiced pork sausage cooked slowly, and the twisted bread called coppia ferrarese are the city's dishes, with tenerina, a dark chocolate cake, and pampepato for dessert. Winter mists are common on the plain.