Friday Ferrara

This morning I went to Casa Romei, the house of a rich banker and husband of an Este. The building is one of the best preserved 15th century houses. The rooms are the same shape and position as they would have been. The house is built round a lovely courtyard. Inside the frescoes on some of the walls have been restored. Apart from a few tables and chairs, no attempt has been made to recreate the room with furniture as it would have been and as in the couple of museums in Edinburgh I saw and the recreated Viking village and Tudor street in York . In the different rooms are now different peoples collections of old bits and pieces – mainly stone carvings off houses. One room had in it broken bits and pieces that been excavated from a convent. I read a book about a convent in Ferrara in the 15th ( I think) century. Many wealthy women came into convents for various reasons bringing with them their own linen, crockery and assorted nice things.

Morning tea at the place I have been to a few times – one of the ladies saw me and said ‘ How was Bologna?’ Trouble is she was on the other side of the room and there were quite a few people between her and me so I was unsure whether to speak my response loudly or edge my way towards her first. It did not really matter – everyone seemed interested in my reply or my Italian. I told her it was interesting but too noisy and I preferred Ferrara. Very diplomatic.

I then walked around the western and northern wall. It was very pleasant . Quite a few people out – strolling or jogging, walking dogs, pushing strollers. Nice views of the countryside.

In the evening I went with the owners of this apartment ( who live downstairs) to another sagra in a different town. Many of the dishes had pear or truffles or both in them. I had lasagne with pear – not the traditional sauce and then guinea fowl with mushrooms and truffles. Delicious