Ferrara

Although it certainly has a thriving tourism industry Ferrara is not on the typical foreign tourist's itinerary which makes it perfect for those tourists who want to get off the beaten path of Venice-Florence-Rome and soak in some authentic northern Italian culture. It's characterized by twisting medieval cobblestoned streets a Duomo (cathedral) with a looming Gothic facade and--best of all--a castle straight out of storybooks complete with towers moat and drawbridges (that you can cross during the day). This is a guide to Ferrara. There are extensive descriptions and photos of the attractions. The Estense Castle history is covered in detail.