The Este Carnival

Folklore and festivals

The atmosphere of the Este masquerades will arise: after almost five hundred years, the amazing Carnival of Ferrara Court is organized in the very heart of Italian Renaissance.

On the occasion of the Carnival of the Este you can meet courtiers, ladies, princes, storytellers and knights in the streets of the old town, in the squares, in the Renaissance palaces and within the walls of the mighty Castle. The rich variety of opportunities for entertainment and tasting of local gastronomy in the context of scenarios made up of prestigious architecture and monuments – sumptuously set up by the historical reenactors of the “Palio di Ferrara” – is organised by the “Contrade” (or districts), which host tourists and masks in their venues in dinners, banquets, aperitifs and shows inspired by the festivals held in the city during the carnivals of the 15th and 16th centuries. As in previous years' editions, the playful and gastronomic initiatives are complemented by theatrical performances, pantomimes and dances by the historical dance groups of the Palio’s districts, as well as further shows and animations in squares.