Istituted in 1854 by Francesco V of Austria Este and housed since 1894 in the current location of the Palazzo dei Musei, the Galleria Estense comprises four main halls and sixteen exhibition rooms dedicated to the significant artistic heritage accumulated by the Dukes of Este since the glorious years of the Ferrara lordship.
Oriented towards an aristocratic collecting with multiple interests, the Estense collections include the rich picture gallery, which contains a valuable number of paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including a group dedicated to Padan painting, several sculptures in marble and terracotta.
A large core of applied art objects that were part of the sumptuous ducal wardrobe, as well as several specific collections such as those of drawings, bronzes, majolica, medals, ivories, and musical instruments. Among the most important works are La Pietà di Cima da Conegliano, the Madonna with Child by Correggio, the Portrait of Francesco I d’Este by Velazquez, the Triptych by El Greco, the marble bust of Francesco I d’Este by Bernini, and the Crucifix by Guido Reni.
Galleria Estense Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Monday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM First Sunday of every month: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM, with free admission. Monday, March 28 and Monday, April 25: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
