In
front of the castle, the finely worked facade of the cathedral offers
a stupendous view.
At
the extended court flourished art and poetry. Here were written, under
the protection of the governing family, the most famous chivalresque
poems of Italian literature: the "Orlando Innamorato" of Matteo
Maria Boiardo, the "Orlando Furioso" of Ludovico Ariosto and
the "Gerusalemme Liberata" of Tasso, to which Goethe dedicated
one of his plays.
Even
today Ferrara is a cultural city: very interesting shows are held at
the Palazzo dei Diamanti, so called for its decorated facade of 12,000
marble blocks cut in the form of diamonds. During the last Sunday in
May, a traditional horse-race ("palio") takes place in Ferrara
to celebrate the anniversary of the crowning of Borso d'Este as duke
of Ferrara. In August, for two weeks street artists from all over the
world meet for a grand festival in the typical narrow streets of the
center.
