A Food Tour of Ferrara: From Pumpkin to Pampapato, Ferrara, Italy (B)

Ferrara lies in the region of Emilia-Romagna, one of the foodie hubs of Italy. The region can lay claim to parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, Parma ham, tortellini, and ragu, all products that have won international fame. Ferrara is one of the smaller cities, once the dominion of the powerful Este family and still home to their majestic castle boasting moat, drawbridge and battlements. Its food scene contributes much to the region, from an unusually shaped bread, to a pumpkin pasta specialty, to the richest chocolate cake in Italy. Follow these tour suggestions around the small historic centre to find the best spots for your aperitivo, dinner, and food souvenirs.

Just like the Milanese or the Venetians, the Ferraresi enjoy their extended pre-dinner drinks. Start an evening by wandering around a couple of Ferrara’s best bars, and nibble on their free snacks to whet your appetite in the style of a true aperitivo. For one of, if not the, oldest enoteca in the world:

Down an alley running beside the cathedral, you find ‘the oldest osteria in the world’, Ai Brindisi, dating from 1435. It naturally has an excellent range of wines to choose from (by the glass or bottle) and its walls are stacked high with dusty bottles from around the world, some dating back decades. Local wines to try are the Bosco Eliceo Bianco, Fortana, Merlot and Sauvignon. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).