The countryside of Ferrara offers a lot of
interesting themes for a visit, on a short term basis, just for a
weekend, or for long term stay, with a full immersion in its
territory, very rich of cultural and naturalistic points of
interest.
On the historical side, the remains of the
renaissance Este court with the summer residences and hunting
places "Delizie Estensi", castles and relaxing gardens where
the Duca spent his summer days with its court, Belriguardo
Castle, Verginese Castle with
its Brolo and
Mesola Castle, have preserved until nowadays a great quote of their
ancient magnificence.
The Benedictine Abbey of Pomposa is another
very interesting historical monument to visit. The ancient
lagoon city of Comacchio with its large salty marshes will
fascinate you for its out of time aspect.
On the naturalistic side the Po Delta
Park, with its never ending succession of salt marshes, river
branches and seashores, is one of the best places in Europe for
birdwatching.
Ferrara and its territory, because of its beauty and unicity, are
acknowledged as an UNESCO world heritage.
The Belriguardo castle "Delizia di Belriguardo" is only 6 km far from
Le Occare guest house. It was the real summer residence of the Este
government and, at its best, was like a little Italian Versailles,
and it was described by Goethe with admiration. Now it
begins to revive form ruins that followed the end of the Este
family. The superb fresco of the Sala della Vigna, not always accessible
to visits (ask at the Museum desk), is a real masterpiece of the
"Officina Ferrarese" and is a very good demonstration of the wealth
of the place at the time of the Este family. The close Roman
necropolis of Voghenza and the Voghiera Museum (inside the
Belriguardo Delizia) are a fully convincing demonstration of
the importance of this site, ancient archiepiscopal seat and stably
inhabited since the Etruscan age. The near Massari
Ricasoli Villa (1725), with its secular park, is another
interesting site to visit.
The "Parco del Delta del
Po", the "Valli di Comacchio" (fresh and salt water
marshes) and the wooden area of the "Boscone della Mesola", that
you can reach very easily following the road for
Portogaribaldi, are places of great interest for people who
love nature and birdwatching. If you have time, a very good way to
visit the Park of the Po Delta area
is to hire a houseboat and to follow the slow course of the
channels and valleys.
You may also visit the Guide to Ferrara and the Guide to Po Delta Park.
Service provided by Le Occare Guesthouse Ferrara -
Italy.
