Palazzo Schifanoia: Large and mysterious frescoes

The Palazzo Schifanoia is one of the great palaces of luxury built by the powerful families of the Italian Renaissance. Its construction began with Alberto V d'Este in 1338 and was later extended by Borso in 1470. The palace features an extraordinary pictorial cycle by Francesco del Cossa and Ercole de' Roberti (The Cycle of the Months) that reveals the magical and Orphic face of the era.

The palace then passed down until it eventually became a tobacco factory. In the late 19th century, the beauty of what was still visible under the heavy layer of grey paint led to a massive restoration campaign. Of the fresco, seven compartments are now visible, restored and preserved from decay. The great reception hall has in the upper part the Greek gods of Olympus in their triumphal chariots and in the middle band the signs of the zodiac. Shown here are the grandiose figures of the decans that refer directly to the magical universe of the Indians and Persians. The paintings, studied by Aby Warburg, still arouse wonder today and constitute, with their references, some of which have yet to be unveiled, an extraordinary milestone in the interpretation of our Renaissance and the importance astrology had on the ebb and flow of practical life. Today the palace, after having reopened post earthquake, is now a museum of the city and its history, as well as being a symbol of Ferrara's magnificence from the Renaissance to the Baroque.