The church of St Dominic, a spacious modern edifice, with a monastery of Dominican nooks connected with it, stands towards the south-west part of the city. It was founded in the year 1710, and completed in 1726, but the Dominicans had an establishment as early as 1'235. Like the former, the church has many pictures ; and Cclio Calcagnini, a celebrated scholar of Ferrara, bequeathed a valuable library to the convent, in the 16th century.
Besides these religious edifices, there are many more in this city worthy of attention : the total number of churches and chapels amounts to 60 or 70, independent of convents for monks and nuns. The inquisition has also a tribunal here; and the archbishop a palace adjacent to the metropolitan church. It is a modern building, commenced in 1718 ; it has some statues, and a staircase which is much admired.
Not far from the last of these buildings stands a great square edifice, with towers at each angle, ornamented by a balustrade, which is called the castle, and is occupied by the cardinal legate. This was originally designed as a place of security, and erected by one of the lords of Fer. rara, after quelling a popular tumult. A military guard is mounted here, and the grand council assembles in a large hall devoted to that purpose.
There are two foundling hospitals for male and female children, one for orphans, and a poor's house for mendi cants ; also different public buildings for the administration of justice, one of which, called the palace of reason, erected in the year 1326. The theatre is a modern struc tore of Ionic architecture, erected in 1786, by Joseph Campana, a Ferrarese.
Pope Clement VIII. after taking possession of the duchy, resolved to build a fort, including a large portion of the city, and several churches ; but the present struc ture, which is of a pentagonal form, was founded only in the year 1608. It is entered by a fine marble gateway, erected in 1630, and there is a colossal statue of Pope Paul V. in marble, under whose pontificate the fortress was completed. A small garrison was lately kept in it.
Ferrara is said to have been distinguished by its literati at a very ancient period, and we have already remarked that the foundation of a university was authorised in 1391.
The seminary which now appears, however, is of more modern date, having either been built or altered in 1610. It is rather a plain structure with a handsome gateway, surmounted by a tower and cupola, and stands towards the south part of the city. To judge by the extent of the literary establishment, this should be a favoured place for study, but we believe that although famous of old, it has now lost much of its celebrity. The whole ccnsists of 22 chairs, embracing the principal branches of science, an anatomical theatre, a school for the fine arts, a museum of antiquities, and a botanical garden. In sculptures, cameos, coins, inscriptions, and mosaic work, the collection is said to be considerable ; but it has most probably shared in the dilapidations which have lately diminished the curiosities of Italy.
The library of the university is of more recent institu tion, having been commenced by the purchase of that of Cardinal Bentivoglio, in 1743. The library of the college of the Jesuits was added some time after, and it was open ed for public use in 1750. Here there is a collection of writings of nearly 500 Ferrarese literati, contained in 1300 volumes. Among the manuscripts are some of Ariosto's poems, written in his own hand. The library possesses 13,000 drawings and engravings, several subjects in natu ral history, and models in clay.
Many celebrated characters owe their birth to Ferrara, famed for poetry, history, science, and the arts ; but at this day the city does not enjoy its ancient reputation ; and the successive changes of government have contributed to les sen the confidence of the inhabitants.
We are not aware of any accurate census later than one made in 1784, when the population amounted to 31,253. Its position, according to the trigonometrical observations of Boscovich, is East Long. 36' 25", and North Lat. 44° 49' 56". See Sardi Historic Ferrarese. Bononi De situ, aquis et acre Ferrarhe. Barotti Memorie istoriche de lette rati Ferrarese. Compendia istorico delle Chiese di Ferrara. Frizzi, Guida del Forastieri per la Citta di Ferrara. (c)