On this weekend in mid-May, thoughts can only go back to the events of a year ago which shocked Romagna with floods and landslides and, on the other hand, saw in Ferrara the Bruce Springsteen concert one of the events that entered the history of the city as it did for Bob Dylan in Piazza Castello in 1996. After twelve months and with an electoral campaign that has come to life, the urban park is free and the controversies seem to be a distant memory.
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But this is also the weekend where the Giro d’Italia arrives in Cento and what was once one of the areas that linked its image to cycling seems to be in trouble: the historic cycle paths (Destra Po and Burana) feel the passage of time and are no longer new, cycle tourists prefer the coast or other regions and perhaps we should relaunch with ideas and proposals, to truly return to being The City of Bicycles. In the meantime, there is a weekend to experience with many events to discover.
Magnificent Palio procession
The historical re-enactment, made up of over a thousand participants which make up the Corte Ducale and the eight districts of the Palio, starts on Saturday at 8.45pm from Piazzale delle Medaglie d’Oro, parades along the entire Corso della Giovecca, up to the Estense Castle and then ends in Piazza Castello.
After Vittorio Sgarbi in 2022, and Pirò Pelù in 2023, this year the VIP guest is Anna Falchi. The best spot to take photos with people dressed in Renaissance costumes and the Castle in the background is definitely the 4S corner, but to find a comfortable place you need to arrive early. The Magnificent Procession, to the sound of drums and clarions, is a sumptuous re-enactment with helmets, shields, crossbows, armour, clothes, hairstyles and jewellery: a real leap back in time. Obviously there are many changes to the traffic in the center to allow the parade.
Exterior Green second act
Esterno Verde returns on Saturday with a new program and a new map, to explore noble villas and Este delights, parks and gardens along the Po di Volano in the Ferrara countryside. Lunch will be set in the churchyard of Viconovo. Proloco volunteers will be in the kitchen, preparing asparagus risotto, pinzini, cured meats and the famous strawberry tiramisu (adults’ menu 20 euros, children’s 10 euros). In the afternoon go ahead for free exploration.
Between Viconovo, Villanova, Denore, Sabbioncello and Copparo many fascinating and curious spaces will be exceptionally open to the public from 3pm to 7pm, capable of recounting the past and present of the area. Not to be missed the wonderful Zenzalino Delight, Villa Bighi, Villa Mensa, Villa Delfini and the Chalet, the romantic Rose Garden, Casale Colombara and the Fattoria di Zia Isa. Some events are also planned.
‘Open water pumps’: guided tours of the reclamation plants
On the occasion of the ‘National Reclamation Week’, the appointment with the ‘open water pumps’ returns on Saturday from 9am to 12pm and from 3pm to 5pm. It will be possible to visit some of the drainage systems of the Consorzio di Bonifica Pianura di Ferrara which this year exceptionally has decided to offer visitors two historical artefacts which have never been opened to the public.
A unique opportunity to see up close how a water lifting system works and understand their importance for the hydraulic balance of the territory. In detail, the Bando plant will be opened, the Berra plant will be accessible for the first time and the Valle Lepri water pump complex (Comacchio), the largest in Europe, which allowed the reclamation of the Mezzano Valley which was questioned then and which is still questioned now. As he also said Mario Tozzi, in a documentary on the flood in Romagna in May 2023 broadcast on RaiTre in recent days, “we should have preserved many of these wetlands”.
Connected to Saturday is the show ‘Aquatic Stories’ scheduled for Sunday morning at 11am which is part of the ‘Bonsai’ festival in Ferrara Off. On stage at Palazzo Naselli Crispiheadquarters of the Consortium, there are Azzurra D’Agostino, Luca D’Arrigo, Margherita Mauro, Giulia Trivero with four stories inspired by the aquatic world, aimed at spectators of all ages.
Free love against all discrimination
On Friday afternoon, on the occasion of the International Day against Homolesbophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, there are two events scheduled in Ferrara. At 5.30pm at the Libraccio bookshop there will be the presentation of the book ‘It’s always been done like this! Ideas for gender pedagogy’ by Alessia Dulbecco. They talk with the author Chiara Baiamonte and Henry Gallamini.
At 7pm we then move to Darsena, Skate Park area, for the inauguration of the rainbow bench, symbol of a city that welcomes, does not discriminate and respects LGBTQIA+ people. Followed by an evening of music, food and drinks.
European Night of Museums
There European Night of Museums, the initiative promoted by the French Ministry of Culture and sponsored by UNESCO, takes place on Saturday simultaneously throughout Europe and also includes in Ferrara the evening opening of state museums and places of culture at the symbolic cost of 1 euro (except for free provided by law). Casa Romei, National Art Gallery and Archaeological Museum are involved.
And Palazzo dei Diamanti also takes advantage of the opportunity to propose three special initiatives. It is possible to visit on Saturday evening the Escher exhibition until midnight (ticket office closes at 11pm), taking advantage, starting from 7.30pm, of a special ticket for 10 euros which can be purchased at the ticket office. The first appointment is held from 6pm to midnight ‘Oroboro | Contemporary sound visions’. In a fusion between visual art and music, the garden of Palazzo dei Diamanti is transformed into a stage of multisensory experiences. To enrich the day, from 4pm to 7pm (last entry at 6.30pm), there is a second appointment with ‘LooOp’, the free workshop which is becoming popular among families to try to recreate a structure with the legendary Lego bricks that may recall Escher’s incredible perspective illusions.
Ceramics celebrating on the Listone
‘Ceramica in festa’ is back, on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th, the 2024 edition of the event organized by Cna for celebrate the Ferrara tradition of ceramics and enhance the activity of our ceramists. The weekend includes, as always, demonstrations and workshops.
A festival also for the imagination
Until Sunday, fantasy is once again the protagonist in the city of Este. The Fantasy Festival arrives in its fourth edition with a focus on Europe understood not as a geographical concept, but as a continent with a cultural identity, winking at those who would only like it to be straight, white and Christian. Expected meetings, concerts, initiatives, food standsguided tours and much more.
World Bee Day
Events, meetings and a walk on the walls: this is the program of the morning dedicated to learning about bees and other pollinators organized by the Natural History Museum for Saturday with meeting at 8.45 in the square of the cultural center ‘A. Slavich’. At 9 he leaves the entomological walk in search of bees and other pollinators with Carla Corazza of the Natural History Museum, and Serena Magagnoli, of the University of Bologna. Grand finale at 11.30 with ‘Honey: let’s taste its qualities’, honey tasting with Marco Magri (Orsi Mangelli farm). And in the middle two thematic focuses and the show ‘Royal Jelly’ edited by Ferrara Off.
Concerts and shows
The countdown for the summer musical events has officially begun (RockaFe, Ferrara Sotto Le Stelle, Ferrara Summer Festival, etc…) and the indoor season of the Circolo BlackStar is also coming to an end with three evenings over the weekend between punk and hc, a tribute to David Bowie and alternative rock.
Saturday at 8pm appointment with the operatic theater production of Municipal Theatre created in collaboration with the ‘G. Frescobaldi’, in the program is ‘The Uninhabited Island’ by Joseph Haydn, a theatrical action in two parts with a libretto by Metastasio, which sees the participation of the artistic cast and the Conservatory orchestra.
Sunday at 5.30 pm, in the garden of the Musijam Cultural Association and Music School, inside the ‘A. Slavich’, is scheduled instead ‘African Beat. The beating heart of Africa’final act of the African percussion and dance course held by maestro Bruno Bruxtar.
‘Margin of Resistance’
On Sunday at 6pm at the headquarters of the L’Approdo Foundation one of the most awaited meetings of the new ‘Margine di Resistenza’ event is scheduled, in fact it arrives the well-known journalist Francesco Cancellato who presents his book ‘In the Black Continent. The right to conquer Europe’. They converse with the author Roberto Cassoli and Antonella Guarnieri. The volume is a long and in-depth investigation into the parties of the European right.
Festivals and fairs not to be missed
Good food and solidarity for the new edition of the ‘Festival of blue fish and pinzino’, scheduled for the next three weekends from Friday 17 May to Sunday 2 June at the Rivana Garden centre. Don’t miss three of the most anticipated events of late spring: the Strawberry Festival in Lagosantothe Flower and Honey Fair in Migliarino and the Feast at Balanzòn and Pinzìn in Casaglia.
Art enthusiasts looking for exhibitions? Here is the dedicated page.
And if you haven’t found the event that’s right for you, try taking a look at the What to do in the city section.
And to conclude…
“The black shirt
after all it is the chimera
last place
defended at all costs
blessed are the last
that they know how to enjoy life”
(The black shirt, Guido Foddis featuring Davide Cassani)
