Guided tour of the Este Castle with children: the court lady awaits you
We want to share an experience that surprised us, and one that we've been recommending to every family staying with us ever since we discovered it. Introducing you to the Court Lady (La Dama di Corte).
A lady who actually lived in this castle is waiting for you on the other side of the door. Elisa Tumiati, professional tourist guideinterprets a noblewoman of the Este court with an extraordinary immersive technique: it could be Isabella d’Estethe refined marchioness who corresponded with the greatest intellectuals of the Renaissance, or Lucrezia Borgia, wife of Alfonso I, the most misunderstood figure in history.
You won't know who you're going to meet. And that in itself is the first extraordinary thing: true anticipation, the kind children feel before opening an important present.
What opens up on the other side of that door is not a guided tour in the traditional sense. It is a show where you, children and parents together, enter as an audience and become, step by step, part of the scene.
Who you'll meet: the character you least expect
Elisa doesn't tell history from the outside: she inhabits it from the inside. She speaks in the first person, answering questions as if she lived in the 15th century", adapts the character to the age and mood of the group. The goal is to spark wonder and curiosity, make people imagine what life was like in these rooms, and reflect on how much the world has changed since then.
The Castle kitchens: the spice and scent workshop
Este banquets were not meals: they were total works of art, designed to delight sight, hearing, taste, and smell all at once. The person in charge was Cristoforo da Messisbugo, the ducal steward who in 1549 codified the modern idea of gastronomy.
On this leg of the tour the lady reads the children an original recipe of Messisbugo. Then comes the olfactory workshop: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, saffron. The same spices that we still find today in salama da sugo and pampapato. Depending on their age, children can invent a recipe of their own, individually or in groups: at this point, the audience begins to become an actor.
The dungeons: the darkness that sparks the imagination
A must-visit stop, the one children always love. The low vault, the dim light, the heavy silence. You plunge in with all your senses, and history suddenly becomes something alive.
Elisa leaves plenty of room for questions and curiosity: every time she enters this space with a new group, incredible gems come out. Only an open mind can see what adults no longer see. Here children don't just look: they react, ask questions, and imagine.
The Orange Garden and the frescoed halls: listening, searching, discovering
In the Orange Garden, the workshop is auditory: Renaissance music, the kind that resounded in this space during Este banquets. Children learn court etiquette, a system of rules that governed every gesture in the presence of a nobleman. Curious and entertaining, not as boring as it might seem.
In the frescoed halls comes the moment when the children become completely the protagonists: a treasure hunt for the symboles of the Este family hidden in the painted scenes. The eagle, the diamond, the heraldic devices. With the little ones it is a visual game; with the older ones it becomes the reading of a language that still speaks after five centuries.
At this point in the tour, no one is just watching anymore. Everyone is searching, listening, trying things out. The transformation is complete: the spectators have become actors.
OUR INSIDER TIP
Don't tell the children too far in advance. Let them discover everything during the visit: the element of surprise is an integral part of the experience, and Elisa knows how to handle it to perfection.
A tour that changes every time.
The activities change according to the age and composition of the group. No two versions are ever the same.
For families returning to Ferrara, it is one of those experiences that truly renews itself. If they wish, parents can actively participate, helping the children with the activities.
The presence of at least one accompanying adult is compulsory.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND BOOKING
- Guide: Elisa Tumiati, professional tour guide
- Recommended age: from 5 years up
- Duration: approx. 90 minutes
- Accompanying adult: compulsory presence of at least one adult
- Booking: compulsory via Inferrara at the link below
Frequently asked questions about the tour with the court lady
What age is it suitable for?
Ages 5 and up. Elisa Tumiati adapts the activities according to the age of the group: with the younger ones, sensory workshops prevail; with the older ones, the historical questions become more detailed and the treasure hunt for the symbols more complex.
Do parents have to participate?
Yes, the presence of at least one accompanying adult is compulsory. This workshop is special precisely because the generations experience it together.
Is the tour always the same?
No. The character played and the activities change every time based on the group. You can do it more than one time without finding the same experience: it is one of the reasons why we recommend it to families returning to Ferrara.
Is a ticket for the Este Castle required?
Yes, an admission ticket is required. Please check access conditions when booking on Inferrara. Booking for the experience is compulsory.
Give your children a unique experience
Book directly on our website, no advance payment and the comfort guaranteed by a spacious apartment.
Do you need advice on your stay or other activities dedicated to children?
Message us on WhatsApp: Emanuela and Ruggero reply personally.