Foreword

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:35:04 +0000
Num. 30

This issue of Ferrara-Voci di una città presents a series of contributions on various items of interest to the area. The articles put the spotlight on times past, with some pieces obviously devoted to Ferrara’s renaissance glory, but others deal with the more recent history of Ferrara and its surroundings. They open with Vittorio Emiliani’s timely and moving tribute to the great director, Florestano Vancini, an intellectual who brought honour to the city and Italian cinema. This is followed by reminiscences on the Piccolo Credito bank and Luigi Franceschini as recounted by his son Giorgio Franceschini, well-known in both cultural and political circles. Further recent history is provided by Gian Pietro Testa in the portrait he paints of Doctor Giuseppe Campailla, his life in Ferrara and the eminent role he played in the field of psychiatry. Another item of historical interest is given by Gabriele Battaglia’s article on the battle of Adwa and his grandfather’s participation in that event. On the more artistic side of things, Barbara Guidi gives us a foretaste of the great exhibition on Boldini that will be soon held in Palazzo dei Diamanti, and Alessandra Pattanaro writes about restoration of the work attributed to Garofalo in the sala del tesoro in Palazzo Costabili. The herbarium of Filippo de Pisis was recently rediscovered by Paola Roncarati who illustrates its scientific and cultural value and provides more information on early twentieth century Ferrara. Romano Guzzinati’s description of the banquet prepared for the wedding of Alfonso II and Barbara of Austria can also be savoured for its culinary and historical content. There is a description of a heronry in a natural oasis by Castagnoli and Gozzi. Nascimbeni’s examination of recently discovered files from the nineteen-thirties and Barbara Ghelfi’s discovery of a secret Modena archive are also of special interest.