Palazzina Marfisa d’Este: A Journey into the Heart of the Renaissance

Palazzina Marfisa d’Este: A Journey into the Heart of the Ferrarese Renaissance

Behind the elegant brick façade on Corso Giovecca lies one of Ferrara’s most fascinating treasures: the Palazzina Marfisa d’Este. This splendid 16th-century noble residence, after a careful restoration, has reopened its doors with a fully renewed museum itinerary.

Visiting the Palazzina means stepping into a place that reflects the refinement of Este court life, with decorated ceilings, precious furnishings, and a graceful garden that once connected it to other noble palaces.

A Unique Renaissance Residence

The Palazzina was built by Francesco d’Este and indelibly tied to his daughter Marfisa, a cultured and independent woman who chose to remain in Ferrara even after the Duchy was devolved to the Papal States. Her life, deeply linked to art and culture, still resonates in the residence’s halls, where the Ferrarese Renaissance comes alive through architecture, frescoes, and period objects.

In the 20th century, art critic Nino Barbantini transformed the Palazzina into a museum, selecting furnishings and works that evoked the atmosphere of a true Este residence. Today’s exhibition preserves that spirit, enriched with new display solutions that highlight the building’s layered history.

A Renewed Experience

Today visitors can explore the Palazzina along a dynamic, accessible itinerary. A new lighting system enhances the grotesque-style ceilings, revealing details previously hidden, while clear texts, infographics, and multimedia content guide visitors through the rooms, making the experience engaging and accessible.

The collection of furnishings loaned by BPER Banca has been enriched with ceramics, medals, and coins from the Civic Museums and the Estense Foundation, displayed alongside the furniture, paintings, and objects chosen by Barbantini in the 1930s. Tactile paths and multimedia tools further ensure an immersive, inclusive experience.

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^{Ph. Luca Gavagna}

A Museum Looking to the Future

The Palazzina Marfisa is not only a testimony of the past: its new museum itinerary makes it a contemporary experience, able to engage today’s audience. Archival videos, infographics, and tactile reproductions make history accessible to all, while the Museum-MIX app allows visitors to explore the interiors through augmented reality, turning the visit into an interactive journey.

An Invitation to Discover Ferrara

The Palazzina Marfisa d’Este is an unmissable stop for anyone wishing to discover Renaissance Ferrara in its most intimate and refined dimension. It tells the story not only of an extraordinary woman like Marfisa, but also of the tastes and atmospheres of an era that made the city a UNESCO World Heritage site.

To make the experience even more special, the Palazzina is at the center of a rich program of cultural events exploring its history and key figures. Every last Sunday of the month, visitors can join a guided tour: a unique opportunity to uncover the curiosities, details, and atmospheres that make this residence a true jewel of the Ferrarese Renaissance.