Why should I choose Ferrara for my Erasmus?
Because you will fall in love with Ferrara! It’s a charming town that has everything you need. The atmosphere is rich in culture, art, music... and delicious food! The Conservatory of Ferrara has a proud 146-year history, and the professors are highly skilled and experienced.
But let’s explore what Ferrara can offer you:
Ferrara is located in the northeast of Italy, in the Po River delta region. Its strategic location makes it easy to reach important cities like Bologna, Venice, Padua, and Florence.
The region of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, is renowned for its delectable food products and cuisine, and Ferrara itself has its own unique culinary traditions.
Ferrara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its historic monuments, streets, and palaces. During the Renaissance, the city experienced its golden age and became one of Italy’s main cultural centers, home to artists such as Ludovico Ariosto, Torquato Tasso, Paracelsus, Andrea Mantegna, and Girolamo Frescobaldi, after whom the Conservatory is named.
One of Ferrara’s treasures is its theatre, Teatro Comunale "Claudio Abbado" (www.teatrocomunaleferrara.it). Each season, it hosts remarkable classical concerts, as well as operas, ballets, and drama productions.
On the jazz scene, Ferrara’s jazz hub is Torrione San Giovanni, a Renaissance tower where the Jazz Club (www.jazzclubferrara.com) holds international concerts weekly.
Throughout the year, Ferrara buzzes with events. One of the most notable is the Palio, an inter-district race that dates back to 1279!
The Conservatory itself organizes numerous events, concerts, and festivals, such as the small Festival of Classical Guitar "In Corde" and miXXer, dedicated to 20th-century music. Students have the opportunity to perform in historic venues like Palazzo Bonaccossi, Palazzo Costabili, Palazzo Ludovico Il Moro, and even the Teatro Comunale and its Ridotto. Throughout the year, international musicians and professors visit the Conservatory for masterclasses and concert-lessons.
Additionally, in 2013, a Ferrara-born pianist living in New York established the Ferrara Piano Festival (www.ferrarapiano.org), offering the chance to study with world-renowned pianists.
Ferrara also hosts amazing music festivals like the Ferrara Buskers Festival (www.ferrarabuskers.com) and Ferrara sotto le stelle (www.ferrarasottolestelle.it), as well as other unique events like the International Kite Festival (http://www.vulandra.it) and the Balloons Festival (www.ferrarafestival.it). In October, a famous festival features workshops, debates, interviews, and dialogues led by international journalists, writers, and artists (www.internazionale.it/festival/).
So, don’t worry—you’ll always find something to do in your free time. During the day, we highly recommend a stroll or jog along the remarkably preserved city walls, as many locals do. At night, students often gather in the city center, where there are plenty of great clubs, bars, and pubs.
If you want to explore more about Ferrara: http://www.ferrarainfo.com/it/ferrara/ferrara
How do I get there?
By plane:
The nearest airport is Bologna’s "Guglielmo Marconi" Airport, just 53 km from Ferrara. It’s well connected to many destinations across Europe and beyond. A shuttle service operates between the airport and Ferrara, costing €15, with a 60-minute journey time and eight trips per day (www.ferrarabusandfly.it/en/). Alternatively, there’s a bus every 20 minutes from the airport to Bologna Centrale railway station, where you can catch a train to Ferrara, which takes around 30 minutes. Check the airport’s website for flight schedules: www.bologna-airport.it
Venice’s "Marco Polo" Airport is 117 km from Ferrara. From there, you can take a shuttle to Venezia Mestre railway station, with departures every 20 minutes. From Venezia Mestre, trains to Ferrara take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. For more details, visit: www.veniceairport.it
Verona’s "Valerio Catullo" Airport is 115 km from Ferrara. After taking the shuttle to Verona railway station, you can catch a train to Ferrara (with a change in Padua or Rovigo), arriving in around 2 hours and 15 minutes. For more information, visit: www.aeroportoverona.it
By train:
Ferrara’s railway station is well connected to various cities. Check these websites to find and book your journey: www.trenitalia.com / www.italotreno.com
Ferrara has direct connections to cities like Bologna and Venice, where international trains arrive from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and more. These websites might be useful: www.raileurope-world.com/train/italian-international-trains www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/prices/europe/europa-spezial.shtml
Getting around Ferrara:
Ferrara is known as "the city of bicycles" (you’ll even see it written on the road signs as you enter the city!). To truly live like a local, you should rent or buy a bike to get around. In the city center, where cars are not allowed, you’ll need to navigate around pedestrians and always lock your bike securely.
In any case, Ferrara also has a good bus service. For more information, visit: www.tper.it/percorsi-orari/servizio-bacino-di-ferrara
The Conservatory is very close to the Theatre, which is near the Cathedral, which is near the Castle, and so on—you get the idea: Ferrara is compact, and within the city center, you can easily walk to your destinations.
Looking for accommodation:
https://erasmusu.com/it/erasmus-ferrara
Medical Assistance:
EU students can receive medical assistance if they have a European Health Insurance Card (T.E.A.M. in Italian), which allows them to receive all necessary medical treatments. If needed, they can visit a General Practitioner (G.P.) who operates within the National Health Service (SSN) or go directly to any hospital in the area.
Alternatively, with the E106 Form, students are entitled to full healthcare services. The E106 Form is issued by the health authorities in their home country. It can be requested by anyone who is insured in their own country. For stays longer than three months, it’s possible to enroll in the SSN by presenting the E106 Form.