Webcam Ferrara. Beach at the Hotel lido di Volano
Ferrara, capital of the province of the same name, is located 57 km north of Bologna. It is a thriving modern commercial center near the River Po. Ferrara is located in the eastern part of the Emilia-Romagna region, on the way from Bologna to Padua and on to Venice.
It was first mentioned in 757 by Pope Stephen II. The site in a valley of the River Po, not far from where the tributary of the Darsena flows into it, was a convenient outpost, and soon people began to flock here in search of protection from the incursions of the Lombards. The favourable location of the city - at the crossroads of the main routes from the Adriatic coast to the Po valley and between Romagna and the northern regions of Italy - made it the subject of constant confrontations between the pope and the emperor.
The Guelphs, represented by the Este family, prevailed in Ferrara and in 1264 Obizzo II d'Este became the head of the Signoria.
During the three and a half centuries that they ruled Ferrara, this family transformed and enlarged the city. The last Duke of Ferrara from this family was Cesare d'Este. With the departure of D'Este in 1598, the capital of the duchy fell into decline.
In 1796 French troops occupied the city and during their stay they destroyed many architectural monuments and exported bronze statues and decorations to be melted down for artillery pieces. After the expulsion of the invaders in 1815, Ferrara was reattached to the Papal States, and in 1860, by the will of the people the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
In the streets of the city there are few cars and motorcycles, most citizens move through the ancient streets on bicycles. The hotels offer tourists this form of transport completely free of charge.
