It was the last day of February and we were looking for a new city to check out. PJ and I headed to Ferrara, only about one hour and twenty minutes away in the Emilia-Romagna region. Ferrara is located on the Po di Volano which is a branch of the Po River. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We did not know what to expect but it was just too nice of a day to pass up a new destination.
We arrived in the morning and were welcomed with large crowds of people walking and riding their bikes. Apparently Ferrara is known to have a huge bike riding population and the reality did not disappoint. The city has 85 km of paths, 120,000 bikes and 25% of journeys are made by bicycles. In fact, it is one of the cities with the highest density of bicycles in the world. There were kids and adults riding around, as well as elderly women in their finest fur coats peddling throughout the piazza and cobblestone side streets.
We found our way to an information center, located in the castle, and grabbed a map of the city. Ferrara dates back to the 700s and had a major cultural movement in 1391, when the university was founded. Artists, musicians, etc., moved to the city and flourished.
After spending several hours walking along the streets and relaxing at the many outdoor seating areas, I can say that Ferrara was one if my favorite cities that we have visited in Italy. It was the perfect mix of young and old, new and historical, and activity with calmness. The city can easily be explored in a day if need be and, if there is time, be sure to walk along the fortress walls!
No comments:
Post a Comment