FERRARA, the duchy of; a province in the pope's territory, bounded on the north by the Austrian territories, on the west by the duchies of Mantua and Mandola, 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 Mantuan. This country is almost surrounded by the branches of the Po, which often overflow the country, and form the great morass of Comachio, 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 Comachio yield a large quantity of fish. Ferrara is the capital town; besides which there are Arano, Comachio, Magnavacca, Belriguardo, Cento, Buendeno, and Ficherola. This duchy was formerly possessed by the house of Este. But the pope took possession of it in 1598. The part of it beyond the Po was annexed to Lombardy in 1815.