Timeline of Ferrara

Prior to 17th century

• 7th century
• * San Giorgio Cathedral built.
• * Benedictine Pomposa Abbey founded near Ferrara.
• 624 – Roman Catholic diocese of Ferrara active.
• 753 – Lombards in power.
• 774 – Archbishop of Ravenna in power.
• 988 – Tedald of Canossa in power.
• 1055 – "Imperial privileges" granted.
• 1101 – Ferrara besieged by forces of Matilda of Tuscany.
• 1115 – Ferrara becomes a "free commune."
• 1135 – New San Giorgio Cathedral consecrated on the.
• 1158 – Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor in power.
• 1196 – Azzo VI of Este becomes podesta.
• 1227 – San Francesco church built.
• 1240 – City besieged; Azzo VII d'Este in power.
• 1243 – Palazzo Ducale built.
• 1249 – Sant'Antonio in Polesine monastery founded.
• 1264 – Obizzo II d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara in power.
• 1278 – Ferarra becomes part of the Papal States.
• 1283 – Torre del Rigobello built.
• 1313 – Riccobaldo da Ferrara begins writing his Chronica parva Ferrariensis
• 1317 – Obizzo III d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara in power.
• 1326 – Palazzo della Ragione built.
• 1333 – "Papal forces making a bid for more control in the province were defeated at Ferrara."
• 1382 – Plague.
• 1385
• * Economic unrest.
• * Castello Estense and Palazzo Schifanoia construction begins.
• 1391
• * University of Ferrara established.
• * Palazzo Paradiso built.
• 1393 – Niccolò III d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara in power.
• 1435 – Castello Nuovo built.
• 1438 – Religious Council of Ferrara held.
• 1441 – Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara in power.
• 1450 – Borso d'Este in power.
• 1452 – Birth of future religious leader Savonarola.
• 1461 – Certosa of Ferrara built.
• 1471
• * Printing press in operation.
• * Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara in power.
• * walkway built.
• 1482 – War of Ferrara begins.
• 1484 – War of Ferrara ends; Venetian forces win.
• 1492 – Addizione Erculea development begins.
• 1493 – Palazzo dei Diamanti construction begins.
• 1516 – Ariosto's poem Orlando Furioso published in Ferrara.
• 1570 – November: 1570 Ferrara earthquake.
• 1598 – Ferrara becomes part of the Papal States.

17th–19th centuries

• 1602 – Teatro della Sala Grande built.
• 1608 – Castel Tedaldo demolished.
• 1753 – Biblioteca Comunale Ariostea opens in the Palazzo Paradiso.
• 1771 – University of Ferrara Botanic Garden founded.
• 1796 – City "occupied by Napoleonic troops".
• 1797 – 2nd Battalion of the Polish Legions founded in Ferrara.
• 1798 – Teatro Comunale (Ferrara) opens.
• 1823 – Accademia delle Scienze di Ferrara formed.
• 1836 – Pinacoteca Nazionale di Ferrara established in the Palazzo dei Diamanti.
• 1838 – Teatro Montecatini active.
• 1846 – Teatro Bonacossi active.
• 1847 – Austrians take city.
• 1859 – Austrians ousted; Ferrara becomes part of the Kingdom of Italy.
• 1861 – Population: 64,204.
• 1868 – Teatro Accademico opens.
• 1872 – opens.
• 1897 – Population: 89,310.

20th century

• 1901
• * begins operating.
• * Ferrara Camera del Lavoro founded.
• 1903 – begins operating.
• 1907 – SPAL formed.
• 1911 – Population: 95,212.
• 1912 – Birth of future filmmaker Antonioni.
• 1920 – 20 December: .
• 1925 – newspaper begins publication.
• 1926 – opens.
• 1928 – Stadio Paolo Mazza opens.
• 1943 – 15 November: .
• 1944 – Bombing during World War II.
• 1955 – Archivio di Stato di Ferrara established.
• 1961 – Population: 152,654.
• 1971 – City divided into 13 administrative frazione: Baura,, Fossanova San Marco, Francolino, Gaibanella, Marrara, Mizzana, Pontegradella, Pontelagoscuro, Porotto, Quartesana, Ravalle, San Bartolomeo in Bosco, and San Martino; and 9 quartieri:, Barco, Centro cittadino, Giardino, Mizzana, Porta Mare, Quacchio, San Giorgio, and Via Bologna.
• 1973 – Istituto di Storia Contemporanea di Ferrara founded.
• 1989 – La Nuova Ferrara newspaper begins publication.
• 1999 – becomes mayor.

21st century

• 2009 – Tiziano Tagliani becomes mayor.
• 2014 – Population: 133,485.
• 2019 – Alan Fabbri becomes mayor.

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