FERRARA, the duchy of; a province in the pope's territory, bounded on the north by the state of Venice, on the west by the duchies of Mantua and Mirandola, on the south by the Bolognese and by Romagna, of which it was formerly a part, and on the east by the gulf of Venice. It is 50 miles in length, and 43 in breadth along the coast; but grows narrower and narrower towards the Mantua. This country is almost surrounded by the branches of the Po, which often overflow the country, and form the great morass of Comacchio, which has a bad effect on the air. It is thin of people, and indifferently cultivated, though fit for corn, pulse, and hemp. The Po and the lake of Comacchio yield a large quantity of fish. Ferrara is the capital town; besides which there are Arano, Comacchio, Magnavacca, Belriguardo, Cento, Buendeno, and Ficheroia. This duchy was formerly possessed by the house of Este. But the pope took possession of it in 1598, after the death of Alfonso II. duke of Ferrara, it being a fief of the church.