Palazzo della Borsa

Palazzo della Borsa is a large palace in Ferrara, located in Largo Castello, in the historical center of the city, facing the Este Castle.

SHORT HISTORY

Starting with the 15th century, the site of the current palace was occupied by the Pavilion Gardens (Giardini del Padiglione) built by the Duke Ercole I d’Este, in place of previous vegetable gardens and small peasant houses.

The palace was built between 1756 and 1761 at the behest of the cardinal legate Giovanni Francesco Banchieri, who entrusted its design to the architect Angelo Santini.

In 1761, it became the seat of Monte di Pietà (Mount of Piety). In 1796, with the arrival of the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte, the institution was suppressed and all the precious goods preserved inside, such as jewels, precious stones, gold and silver, were requisitioned. In 1807, when the French troops left, its management was entrusted again to Monte di Pietà.

In 1930, the institute was absorbed by Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara, already owner of the palace and partially operating on the ground floor of the building. Later, the structure became the seat of the Stock Exchange.

During the Second World War, the palace was damaged and the roof was destroyed. The reconstruction was only possible after the war.

ARCHITECTURE

The palace has two facades. The main facade overlooks Corso Ercole I d’Este and is characterized by a geometric symmetry of the lateral volumes separated by the central block, with a large portal on the ground floor.

The secondary facade overlooks Largo Castello and is characterized by an evident asymmetry. The easternmost part follows both the design and the plastering of the facade on Corso Ercole I d’Este, and has no access, while the westernmost part seems to belong to a different building, with an important marble portal with two Corinthian half-columns which support a classic pediment under which stands a large plaque.

The large internal courtyard of the palace is completely covered by a pyramid-shaped metal structure, which gives the space below a great brightness and allows it to be used for various purposes.

The facades are decorated with spiers that highlight, at the level of the roof, the pilaster structures of the lateral corners.

An unusual aspect that characterizes this building is the presence on the edge of the pavements of white stone bollards decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the Ecce Homo.

HOW TO GET THERE

Palazzo della Borsa is located about 1.4 kilometers away from the Ferrara railway station. The closest bus stop is Cavour Giardini, located about 70 meters away, on the bus Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 21.