magnificent bridal procession winds its way along the streets of the old town centre of Ferrara, in search of the magic, the atmosphere, the voices and colours which accompanied the arrival of Lucrezia Borgia to the town of Estensi: this is the initiative managed by the "Ente Palio di Ferrara" which organises the same Palio each year, one of the oldest in Italy: established by the Borough of Ferrara in 1279, the Palio of Ferrara is today one of the events which arouses the passionate interest of townspeople and tourists, with the traditional competitions (races in Piazza Ariostea and the flag-wavers competitions), just as much as the initiatives of historic re-enactments which bring us back to the contemporary moments of celebration tied to the most intimate and oldest traditions of the Estense court.
The proposal for the Year of Lucrezia Borgia intends to mix entertainment and people participation with moments of divulgation of the culture and costume of the period. A historic parade in period costume will cover some of the most charming areas of renaissance Ferrara, around the monumental heart of the splendid Piazza Municipale, recently restored and authentic city-salon. The places involved will become theatre of the re-enacted events with short shows, plays and animation and a meeting place for the public around situations that reproduce scenes of daily life of the period of Lucrezia; the market, the trades and the arts, the guild life. In this way it will be possible to travel back in time to identify oneself with the Ferrara citizens of the sixteenth-century, noble or commoner, as they feverishly await the arrival of the charming newly-wed bride.

Ente Palio Città di Ferrara
Via Mortara 98
44100 Ferrara
Tel. 0039 0532 751 263
www.comune.it/associa/ente_palio
entepalio.ferrara@libero.it