Ferrara, excavations kick off to rediscover the Este delight of Belfiore. It will be a participatory archaeology project

With a council resolution, theFerrara City Council yesterday authorized excavationsto unearth theancient Belfiore palace: the 15th-century Este delizia of Belfiore will thus be the subject of excavations and archaeological investigations, with the involvement for the first time of students and citizens. Thanks to a 37,500 euro grant and the start of a three-year project that will also involve the Province, the Ferrarese Archaeological Group, the scientific direction of the Superintendency, and the scientific, “Roiti,” and classical, “Ariosto,” high schools in a vast"participatory archaeology" project, the city intends to rediscover the famous monumental residence of the Este family, symbol of the splendor of Leonello d’Este, before it was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1632. The area that will be affected by the archaeological survey (the first surveys will be carried out starting next month and the first excavation campaign, which will last five weeks, will begin in September) is about one and a half hectares, northwest of the last stretch of Corso Ercole I d’Este. The Ferrara Pianura Reclamation Consortium will carry out fencing of the area, preliminary to the archaeological work.

“The excavation campaigns will become a real open construction site,” said Chiara Guarnieri, of the Superintendency. “The archaeological group and students, after training, will be able to freely approach this type of activity and make their contribution, guided by professional archaeologists.”

“I am overjoyed that this pathway, which initiates an impressive teamwork and great involvement, comes to fruition, and I thank all those involved, with three important goals,” said Mayor Alan Fabbri."To rediscover the history of the ancient Belfiore Palace, which has never been excavated; to involve students and citizens; and to raise awareness of the importance of knowledge and conservation of one’s cultural heritage, while at the same time enhancing a green area with great potential."

“The project,” Guarnieri concludes, "intends to have a future even after the planned three years: in fact, at the end of the period we would like, with the collaboration of a landscape architect, to launch a competition of ideas for the enhancement of the area. The idea is to repurpose the layout through shrubs and hedges. To this end, we will also carry out analysis of botanical findings, to reconstruct the ancient gardens of the palace."

Image: Ancient Delight of Belfiore, detail from elevation of 1499.

Ferrara, excavations kick off to rediscover the Este delight of Belfiore. It will be a participatory archaeology project

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