Established in 1854 by Francesco V of Austria-Este and housed since 1894 in its current location in the Palazzo dei Musei, the Galleria Estense comprises four halls and sixteen exhibition rooms dedicated to the conspicuous artistic heritage accumulated by the Dukes of Este since the glorious years of the Ferrarese seigniory.

Oriented towards an aristocratic collection of multiple interests, the Este collections include the rich collection of paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries, including a group of paintings from the Po Valley, several marble and terracotta sculptures, a large nucleus of applied art objects that were part of the sumptuous ducal wardrobe, as well as several specific collections such as drawings, bronzes, majolica, medals, ivories and musical instruments.

Among the most important works are La Pietà by Cima da Conegliano, the Madonna and Child by Correggio, the Portrait of Francesco I d’Este by Velázquez, the Triptych by El Greco, the marble bust of Francesco I d’Este by Bernini and the Crucifix by Guido Reni.