Castello Estense
The 14th-century Este castle in the centre of Ferrara, surrounded by a moat, with a museum, ducal rooms and the panoramic Torre dei Leoni.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Castello Estense was founded on 29 September 1385, the feast of Saint Michael, when the marquis Nicholas II d’Este began the construction of a powerful fortress entrusted to the court engineer Bartolino da Novara. From the archangel it originally took the name Castello di San Michele.
In the following centuries, under the succession of the Este dukes, the building was transformed from a fortified tower into a Renaissance palace and became the seat of the Este court. It later passed to the cardinals and then to the prefectures, and since the 20th century it has been a monument open to the public.
The museum route allows visitors to see the rooms of the ground floor and first floor, including the apartments of the dukes and the camerini, as well as the old prisons. For a fee, visitors can climb the Torre dei Leoni. The castle stands in the centre of Ferrara, surrounded by a moat, and tells the story of the evolution from fortress to ducal palace.
Highlights
- Moat and towers of the 14th-century castle
- Halls and apartments of the Este dukes
- Camerini of Alfonso I
- Torre dei Leoni with a view over the city
- Old prisons
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso museale del Castello Estense – The rooms of the ground floor and first floor, the apartments of the Este dukes and the Torre dei Leoni.
- Founded
- 1350
- Operated by
- Comune di Ferrara
- Visitors per year
- approx. 192,579
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10people over 65, members of groups of at least 15 people, university students, members of FAI and COOP Alleanza 3.0, holders of tickets for the exhibitions of the Fondazione Ferrara Arte |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 10 · Free under 11; children aged 11 to 17 pay €5, but for each paying adult one child aged 11 to 17 enters free. |
| Seniors | €10Reduction for people over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their companions. |
| Students & apprentices | €10University students with a card; groups from lower and upper secondary schools €5; free for first-year students of the University of Ferrara. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €10 per personReduced rate for groups of at least 15 people (maximum 25, booking mandatory); upper secondary school groups €5. Openings outside normal hours on request (minimum 25 tickets): €20 on top of organisational costs, with at least 7 working days’ notice. |
| Families | –For each paying adult, one child enters free. |
| Torre dei Leoni supplement | €2Free for holders of the MyFe Card and for children up to age 11. |
| MyFe Card, 2 days (museums of Ferrara) | €20 |
| MyFe Card, 3 days (museums of Ferrara) | €22 |
| MyFe Card, 6 days (museums of Ferrara) | €25 |
Online booking is strongly recommended. If the south wing and the camerini are closed, the standard and reduced tickets cost €2 less. €1 discount for guests of the partner operators “Amici del Castello”, with a voucher. Also free for tourist guides, teachers in service, journalists with a card, and visitors on their birthday.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The castle is accessible to people with disabilities and reduced mobility, except the prison rooms. Wheelchair users reach the first floor from the Torre di San Paolo, which is equipped with lifts. The ticket office provides detailed information, and there are assistance points along the route. Accessible route plans and a guide in augmentative and alternative communication are available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 10 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Guided tours for the youngest visitors. For each paying adult, one child enters free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
By train to Ferrara station; buses and regional trains with TPER.
From the A13 Bologna–Padua motorway, take the Ferrara Nord or Ferrara Sud exit; parking information at www.ferraratua.com. Address: Largo Castello 1.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Castle bookshop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum no longer offers guided tours. Guided tours at fixed times at weekends are offered by the Comune’s tourist service (www.inferrara.it, IAT tel. +39 0532 419190), with fees that do not include the entrance ticket. Small animals are admitted in arms or in a bag. |
