Emanuela and Ruggero

Piazza Nova Guest House, Ferrara

We have been running this property in the Addizione Erculea since July 2004.

We’ve visited 35 countries around the world, but Ferrara is the one place we always love coming back to.

Our authentic guide to the city you least expect.

Ferrara changed our lives: here is why this city is like nowhere else

Over twenty years, we’ve visited 35 countries. Every time we return, we understand a little more about why Ferrara is different. Not just generally beautiful, but different. It has a unique character that’s hard to capture until you experience living here, even if only for a few days.

A city that has no need to show off

The first thing that strikes you is the silence. Not the silence of abandoned places, but the quiet of cities that know exactly who they are. The medieval streets are no tourist set: locals ride through them every day on their bikes, carrying their shopping, heading to work.

The historic centre is UNESCO heritage since 1995, recognised as one of Europe’s most complete examples of Renaissance urban planning. Today, the city still preserves a rare balance: an authentic, living city of art where the elegance of its spaces, the slow pace of bicycles, and the harmony between architecture and daily life create an intimate, genuine experience—far removed from the frantic tourism of major destinations.

Ferrara is deeply loved by those who know it, yet almost overlooked by those who have never been. For those who do choose it, this is the real privilege.

The Addizione Erculea: Europe’s first modern city

We live in the Addizione Erculea, the district designed by Biagio Rossetti between 1492 and 1510, commissioned by Ercole I d’Este. The architectural critic Bruno Zevi defined it as "Europe’s first modern city": the earliest example of urban planning designed for community living, rather than a mere display of power.

Rossetti’s insight was revolutionary: wide streets, airy squares, and kitchen gardens nestled between the palaces. When you walk through our neighbourhood today, that logic remains entirely intact. The proportions are exactly those of five centuries ago. The rhythm is that of a city that has chosen not to rush.

"Piazza Nova” was the ancient name for Piazza Ariostea, the very heart of this district. Just as that square was designed to give the city room to breathe, our property is designed to give your journey room to breathe. We live in a traditional 19th-century Ferrarese cassero, in Ruggero’s grandparents’ home: an authentic place that we have chosen to share with fellow travellers.

The district boasts Ferrara’s greenest area: private kitchen gardens nestled between Renaissance palaces, the city walls just a thirty-second walk away, and free public street parking right outside the property.

The Castello Estense: symbol of a golden age

The Castello Estense rises in the very centre of Ferrara like a block of stone that asks no permission. Four towers, the moat, the drawbridge: this is no reconstruction, no theatrical backdrop. It was the political heart of the Este court for over two centuries, and you can still feel it today.

What makes the Castello different from other Italian monuments is its relationship with the city. It is not isolated on a hill, nor is it separated by grand ceremonial squares. It is deeply woven into Ferrara: you cycle around it, you pass right by it on your way to the market. This proximity is unusual and, once you get used to it, utterly indispensable.

Over the last twenty years, hundreds of our guests have visited the Castello. Almost no one returns disappointed: the scale of the interiors, the frescoed ceilings, and the dungeons where prisoners were once held, tell a story that needs no fictionalising.

Ferrara by bike: not a pastime, but a philosophy

You cannot speak of Ferrara without speaking of bicycles, even in an article on history and heritage. Because the bicycle is part of that heritage: it is the way this city has chosen to move, to inhabit its spaces, and to experience the Renaissance historic centre it has so beautifully preserved.

Roughly 90% of Ferrarese residents own a bicycle. One in four journeys is made in the saddle. And the Renaissance walls enclosing the city, fully intact for 9 kilometres, are now one of Italy’s most evocative cycle paths: a tree-lined rampart with absolutely no cars, offering stunning views over both the city and the surrounding countryside.

Bicycles are complimentary with your stay at Piazza Nova.

Staying in Ferrara’s Historic Centre: Why Your Choice Changes Everything

Those who stay outside the historic centre see Ferrara. Those who stay in the Addizione Erculea inhabit it, even if only for a few nights.

Our apartments range from 31 to 45 square metres, featuring a fully equipped kitchen and a washing machine: the freedom of a private apartment paired with the warmth of genuine hospitality. No keypads, no self-check-in: a doorbell rings, and we are the ones who open the door. We live just across the inner courtyard, always on hand without being intrusive.

Booking directly on piazzanova.it guarantees the best rate, payment on arrival with no advance deposit, and a relationship that begins long before check-in. You can write to us on WhatsApp to ask for the best route along the Walls, or to find out where the locals really eat.

Why Ferrara is Different: The Answer After Twenty Years

It is not a single monument, nor a museum like no other, nor a square you cannot find elsewhere. It is the combination of all these things on an urban scale that does not overwhelm, in a rhythm that decompresses, and in an authenticity that has no need to show off.

There is a moment, for almost every guest, when Ferrara stops being a place you visit and becomes a place you inhabit, if only for a few days. It happens on the Walls at dawn, on a bike; in Piazza Ariostea on a Sunday morning; in front of the Castello in the evening when the light shifts, and for a few fleeting seconds, time truly stands still.

The moment is different for everyone. But it almost always happens.

Ferrara FAQs

Is Ferrara a UNESCO World Heritage Site? What does the recognition include?

Yes. Ferrara’s historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, recognised as the most complete example of Renaissance urban planning in Europe. The recognition includes the Addizione Erculea (Herculean Addition), the City Walls, the Estense Castle, and the system of historic palaces and gardens. In 1999, it was extended to include the Po Delta.

What can you see in Ferrara in a weekend?

Un fine settimana permette di visitare il Castello Estense, percorrere le Mura in bicicletta, passeggiare nell’Addizione Erculea, scoprire Piazza Ariostea e il Palazzo dei Diamanti. Con due notti si vive la città con calma, senza dover correre.

Is Ferrara suitable for those who aren't interested in art and history?

Sì. Ferrara funziona anche come destinazione di turismo lento: la bicicletta, le Mura, il ritmo della città, la quiete del centro storico. Molti ospiti che non si definiscono “turisti culturali” tornano proprio per l’atmosfera e la scala umana della città, non per i musei.

Is Piazza Nova Guest House in the historic centre?

Yes, we are located within the city walls of Ferrara in the Addizione Erculea, the Renaissance quarter in the heart of the UNESCO-listed historic centre. We are a ten-minute walk from Corso Ercole I d’Este, just one minute from the City Walls, and fifteen minutes from the Estense Castle. The guest house itself is a 19th-century cassero, a historic building typical of Ferrara.

How do I reach Ferrara by car? Is there parking available?

Ferrara can be reached by car via the A13 motorway (taking either the Ferrara Nord or Ferrara Sud exit) or the A22. Free public street parking is available directly in front of the guest house, with no time limits. Once you have parked your car, a bicycle is the best way to get around – and it is included in your stay.

Come to Ferrara. Start your journey at our door.

We know the soul and heritage of this city inside out: we will be your local ambassadors, sharing all the insider tips to help you discover the museums with the full benefits of the MyFe Card.