Palazzina Marfisa d'Este is a modest but atmospheric Renaissance residence on Corso Giovecca. Built around 1559 by Francesco d'Este, it is closely associated with his daughter Marfisa, one of the last Este figures to remain in Ferrara after the dynasty's political world began to close in.
The pleasure here is domestic rather than monumental. Frescoed ceilings, small rooms, ceramics, paintings, and period furnishings give a softer version of Este Ferrara than the castle or Palazzo Schifanoia. It is a good stop for travellers who like court history without crowds.