Ferrara in bici 🚴 Il tour completo della città più ciclabile d’Italia 😎

Today I'll take you on a discovery of Ferrara, a city that seems tailor-made for exploring by bike 🚴‍♂️ Our tour begins at Porta Paola, one of the city's ancient monumental entrances. The gate was built in 1612 by order of Pope Paul V, hence its name, and marked the western entrance to the city. From here, I immediately join the bike path that runs along the walls of Ferrara. ☘️ It's one of the most beloved routes among the Ferrarese: completely immersed in greenery, it offers a peaceful and relaxing way to discover the city. ☺️ After about ten minutes of pedaling, I decide to temporarily leave the path to reach one of the most important sites of medieval Ferrara 🛡️ I cross the Ponte di San Giorgio and the basilica appears before me in all its grandeur. Dedicated to Saint George, the patron saint of Ferrara, this is considered the city's oldest church. ⛪️ The origins of the Basilica of Saint George Outside the Walls date back to the 7th century, and for several centuries, it was Ferrara's first cathedral, before the bishop's seat was moved to the current Duomo in the 12th century. I set off from the Guardiola del Baluardo di San Giorgio, one of the lookout posts that were once part of the city's defense system. I return to the bike path that runs along the walls and continue pedaling through the greenery. Today, where sentries and soldiers once walked, you pedal among centuries-old trees, meadows, and bastions that tell the story of over five centuries of history. ⚔️ I leave the bike path and reach one of the most scenic points of the entire route: the Prospettiva di Corso Giovecca. 😲 The Prospettiva was built in the early 18th century to create a scenic connection between the city center and the countryside south of the walls. More than a defensive gate, it represents an architectural element designed to amaze those arriving in Ferrara. I return to the bike path, but this time I choose the most fascinating route: the one that runs directly above the walls. 😍 I descend the walls again and before me appears the Torrione di San Giovanni, one of the best-preserved defensive structures of the ancient city walls. ⚔️ The tour of the walls ends here, at the Darsena di San Paolo. Once the city's river port, it is now a completely redeveloped space. But the journey is only halfway: now I leave the walls behind and head towards the heart of Ferrara, where some of its most famous monuments await me. The first stop in the historic center is the Church of San Giovanni Battista. I set off again, crossing Corso Martiri della Libertà, and at the end of the avenue, one of the city's iconic buildings finally appears: Palazzo dei Diamanti, which owes its name to the over eight thousand blocks of white and pink marble carved into diamond shapes that completely cover its facades. Continuing along Corso Porta Po, I reach the Church of San Benedetto Abate, one of Ferrara's most important religious buildings. I continue along Via Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the liveliest streets in the historic center, until I reach Piazza Trento e Trieste, the beating heart of medieval Ferrara. Here stands the Cathedral of San Giorgio, begun in the 12th century, an extraordinary example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, although its bell tower is now completely engulfed in scaffolding for restoration work. And there it is, finally, before me: the undisputed symbol of Ferrara, the Estense Castle. 🏰 I begin walking around its entire perimeter, and with the Insta360, every shot becomes even more spectacular. I cross the drawbridge and finally enter the castle. I exit the castle passing under the historic Via Coperta, the elevated passageway that directly connected the Estense Castle to the Ducal Palace. 😎 I thus find myself in Piazza Savonarola, dominated by his statue, and enter Piazza Municipio, the ancient court of honor of the Este family. On the right stands the magnificent Scalone d'Onore. 🤩 I cross the loggia of the Palazzo Municipale, which was once the residence of the Este family, and continue along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. Every pedal stroke becomes an opportunity to experience new perspectives, passing under the porticoes, following the rhythm of the arches that flow above my head, until I reach the foot of the Clock Tower. 🕰️ A few pedal strokes from the square reach Via delle Volte. Just taking it is enough to feel like you've stepped back several centuries. After crossing the heart of Ferrara, there's one more place I want to visit before concluding this day of cycling. It's the Certosa di San Cristoforo, one of the most fascinating and lesser-known places in the city. ☺️ I hope this trip has helped you discover the authentic Ferrara. See you on the next trip... always on two wheels. 🚴 ‼️ For all other social media, you can find me on my landing page👇 https://linktr.ee/viacoltubo_