With its Princes and Maecenas who were at times readily bloodthirsty (a sign of the times), the Este family ruled over Ferrara between 1208 and 1598 and certainly knew how to beautify the town. Their castle, protected by four drawbridged chatelets gives an idea of their former power. Inside the sinister prison where Niccolo III's wife and lover were locked up contrasts with the pleasant orangery, peaceful ducal chapel and the other elegant rooms with frescoes by Filippi and other 16C artists.