Ferrara is a city and comune located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It serves as the capital of the province of Ferrara and is situated approximately 44 kilometres northeast of Bologna. The city lies on the Po di Volano, which is a branch channel of the main Po River located about 5 kilometres to the north.
The town is characterized by its broad streets and numerous palaces dating back to the Renaissance period, during which time it hosted the court of the House of Este. Due to its cultural importance and aesthetic beauty, Ferrara has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As of 2016, the municipality had a population of 132,009 inhabitants.