Piazza Municipale

The square is situated in the area that once housed the courtyard of the Ducal Palace, now the Town Hall. The main entrance, opposite the Cathedral, is through the so-called Volto del Cavallo, an arch flanked and framed by two statues representing Marquis Niccolò III on horseback and Duke Borso d'Este, seated on a faldstool whilst brandishing his sceptre in the act of administering justice.

In the Ducal Courtyard, the Monumental Staircase stands out; it was built by the architect Pietro Benvenuti dagli Ordini in two separate phases. The structure of the staircase dates back to 1473, whilst the roof was completed between 1479 and 1481 with marble columns, vaulted ceilings and the characteristic dome, giving the structure a style that blends Venetian architecture with that of late Ferrarese Gothic.

The Court Chapel, dedicated by Ercole to his wife Eleonora of Aragon, is situated on the north side of the square; today it is known as the Sala Estense and is used for film screenings and theatrical performances.

On the south side stands the narrow Volto del Cavalletto, one of the ancient entrances to the “Cortile”, whilst the façade at the entrance to Via Garibaldi is characterised by the Volto della Colombina and a Renaissance loggia, which was altered following the late 19th-century restoration works that gave the 15th-century building its current appearance.

Did you know? The square is one of the places where the young poet Ludovico Ariosto was able to attend the first theatrical performances organised by the court of Ercole I d’Este, and where Ariosto himself staged numerous productions based on works by Plautus and Terence.