Ferrara, a Romantic and Poetic City

Ferrara's beauty is subtle, made of meaningful silences, of vistas that open unexpectedly behind an archway or at the end of a quiet square. Romantic, but in its own way: Ferrara invites you to experience Valentine’s Day without clichés, guided instead by curiosity and the desire to uncover the city's deepest soul.

We’ve created a unique itinerary that begins with traces of Ludovico Ariosto, poet of romantic imagination, but also a man in love. An itinerary that leads through the most evocative corners of Ferrara, perfect for a stroll hand in hand.

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Ludovico Ariosto’s House

Start your journey at Via Ariosto 67, the house where the poet spent the final years of his life working on the third and definitive edition of Orlando Furioso. Above the doorway, he had engraved a now-famous Latin phrase: Parva, sed apta mihi – "small, but suited to me." A tribute to simplicity, autonomy, and the serenity of daily life. Every detail here speaks of an authentic love, for writing, for calm, for home. A place to share, to rediscover together the true meaning of the word home.

The Garden of the Oranges

Next, step inside the city’s most iconic fortress, the Este Castle. Within its museum path lies the Garden of the Oranges, a small hanging garden that Ariosto himself is said to have loved, possibly even drawing inspiration from it for the enchanted landscapes of his epic. A quiet pause here, suspended between towers and rooftops, is perfect for whispered dedications or a shared breath of peace.

Corso Ercole I d’Este: one of Europe’s most beautiful avenues

Continue your walk along this wide, straight boulevard connecting the Castle to Porta degli Angeli, one of the most scenic routes in Ferrara. It’s no coincidence that Giorgio Bassani chose it as the setting for The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, and it’s likely that Ariosto, who lived nearby, walked here often. Strolling it today feels like stepping through centuries of love stories, both lived and imagined.

Parco Massari: the art of getting lost together

A short detour leads to Parco Massari, one of Ferrara’s most charming green spaces, with centuries-old trees and a timeless atmosphere. It’s perfect for slow walks, shared secrets, or quiet moments. A place where romance flows freely, perhaps from a park bench while reciting old love poems.

Porta degli Angeli: where city meets countryside

Last stop, though it may feel more like a beginning, is Porta degli Angeli, part of Ferrara’s historic city walls. It marks the border between city and countryside, history and dream. Ariosto knew it well, it once led to the Este family’s Barco estate, now transformed into the Giorgio Bassani Urban Park, a peaceful green haven where you can walk hand in hand, listening to birdsong or watching the ducks glide across small ponds.