Cittadella, the enchanting town in Veneto, is renowned for its extraordinary medieval Cittadella Walls that completely encircle the historic center. Walk along the elevated ramparts and enjoy the panoramic views from above before strolling through its charming streets.

For medieval architecture enthusiasts like me, Cittadella is an absolute must-visit. As you approach the center, you’ll immediately notice its breathtaking uniqueness, sure to leave you in awe! The defining feature of Cittadella is its fully intact Cittadella Walls, which embrace the town completely. Its elliptical rampart walkway, the only one in Europe that is entirely accessible, is complemented by a moat that immerses you in the era of sieges and knights.

Located in Veneto’s Padua province, Cittadella is about 35 kilometers north of the capital, a journey of roughly 45 minutes. This charming town is perfectly positioned between Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Treviso, and Padua, making it an ideal destination to pair with a visit to one of these cities.

I visited Cittadella in May 2024, on a sunny day, combining it with a short trip to Bassano del Grappa (which I will discuss in more detail later), and I was immensely fascinated by it!
By now, you know me… I can’t resist medieval architecture, and here I could feast my eyes on immense beauty and daydream a little. Between walks along the ramparts of the walls and fairytale panoramas, Cittadella was the perfect setting for a wonderful weekend in Veneto!

Bassano Gate (Porta Bassano)

Porta Bassano, the most imposing of the city gates, stands on the northern side of the city, with five gate systems: three facing outward, two inward, and a keep approximately 30 meters tall.
The walk along the Cittadella Walls begins here, offering a relaxing 45-minute stroll along the 1,400-meter-long walls at a height of 14 meters. This unique experience allows visitors to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Cittadella’s historic center and its surroundings.

The gate structure also incorporates the Captain’s House, which predates the construction of the city walls.

The Walk Along the Medieval Cittadella Walls

From Porta Bassano begins the city’s most thrilling attraction: the rampart walk along the imposing Medieval Walls, dating back to the 13th century.
The walls were built at the same time as the city’s founding, by the order of Padua, as a commercial outpost toward the Alpine territory.
Constructed on sand and gravel with no real foundations, the walls are supported by embankments and large earthen buttresses. Severely damaged between the 15th and 18th centuries, they suffered significant collapses in 1774 and 1785. However, after an accurate restoration from 1994 to 2013, the Cittadella Walls are now among the best-preserved in Europe and fully walkable!

One of the features that struck me the most, besides the extraordinary beauty of the walls themselves, is the wide moat fed by spring water that surrounds the city. In the past, residents used the moat for fishing, which is now prohibited. Today, visitors can rent electric boats to admire the walls from a unique perspective.

During the walk along the walls, you’ll encounter numerous towers once used to store weapons, ammunition, and other materials. The towers vary in size and include:

• • 4 large bastions,
  • 12 rectangular towers, measuring 6 meters by 4 meters and standing 22 meters tall,
  • 16 smaller towers, measuring 6 meters by 3 meters and standing 15 meters tall.

Ticket prices:

• €5 for adults.
• €3 reduced price for residents, seniors, minors, university students up to 26 years, journalists, and groups of 10 with reservations.
• €4 for Touring Club members.
• €14 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children under 18).
• Free for children under 3 and visitors with disabilities.

Tickets can be purchased at the IAT Office at Porta Bassano, granting access to the walkway, the Frescoed Hall, the Medieval Recreation Room in the Captain’s House, the Archaeological Museum, the Siege Museum, and the panoramic terrace of the Torre di Malta.

Torre di Malta: The Bloody Tower

Halfway through the elevated walkway, you’ll encounter the Torre di Malta, built in 1251 over Porta Padovana.
Originally commissioned by Ezzelino da Romano, the tower served as a prison infamous for its inhumane conditions, earning it the nickname “bloody tower.”

Stories tell of prisoners being transported with their feet tied under horses’ bellies and then lowered into the tower’s underground dungeons, where they were left to die of starvation.

Today, the Torre di Malta is no longer a prison. Instead, it houses exhibition spaces and museums, including a conference hall on the ground floor and the Archaeological Museum and Siege Museum on the upper floors.
The tower’s topmost point offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city’s interior, including the Duomo, and the surrounding countryside.

Piazza Pierobon and the Duomo of Cittadella

After walking along the elevated walkway of Cittadella’s Walls, you descend into the historic center via the main street leading to Piazza Pierobon, the heart of the city, dominated by the Duomo. The square is surrounded by historic buildings of various styles, some featuring porticoes that house shops and cafés.

The Duomo, built in neoclassical style between 1774 and 1826, is dedicated to Saints Donatus and Prosdocimus. Its white façade, completed in the 20th century, is adorned with columns, bas-reliefs, and statues. This majestic monument replaced an older 16th-century church.

Inside, with its single nave, the columns support a rounded vault. Numerous statues adorn the walls, interspersed with altars.

The church houses a rich collection of paintings, with a small art gallery located in the sacristy. Next to the Duomo stands the bell tower, which hosts the Museum of Sacred Art, displaying works from the church itself, organized by historical period.
In the small square adjacent to the Duomo, the Column of St. Mark rises, featuring the iconic winged lion emerging among the trees. This is, unmistakably, a tribute to Venetian rule over Cittadella.

Treviso Gate (Porta Treviso)

Heading east, at the end of Via Guglielmo Marconi, you’ll find the eastern entrance to the city, Porta Treviso, recognizable inside by a fresco depicting the Coronation of the Virgin and the Annunciation.

This gate, among the four in Cittadella, is unfortunately the one that has suffered the most deterioration over time. Its structure was partially demolished during the Napoleonic era, and the external part has endured significant damage over the years, including the disappearance of the original drawbridge, which was replaced with a stone bridge.
Damage is also visible in the upper part of the gate and the adjacent tower.

Vicenza Gate (Porta Vicenza)

We decide to pass through Padua Gate to leave the historic center and admire the walls from the outside. We walk a short stretch along the moat surrounding Cittadella, where the vegetation grows lush and vibrant.

Inside Porta Vicenza, equipped with a triple gate system and flanked by a tower approximately 25 meters high, there is a large niche housing a recently restored fresco depicting a crucifixion.

Outside, there is a charming kiosk by the edge of the moat, inviting passersby to stop for a drink while enjoying the stunning view of the walls from the outside.

Where to Eat in Cittadella

Choosing a restaurant in Cittadella was no easy task, given the numerous highly-rated options.
For dinner, we opted for the Bigoleria Trattoria del Borgo, where we enjoyed a wide variety of handmade pasta dishes, including porcini mushrooms, truffle, and venison. Dessert was a delectable chocolate salami.

For lunch, we chose the Hostaria Veneta, near Porta Bassano in the historic center. The refined yet cozy atmosphere, along with excellent service, made it a memorable dining experience.

Both restaurants come highly recommended for anyone visiting Cittadella!

Where to park in Cittadella

If, like me, you arrive in Cittadella by car, it’s important to know where to park. Personally, I left my car in the Via Palladio parking lot, adjacent to the Hotel Filanda where we stayed. However, there are several other parking options, both free and paid, near the city walls of Cittadella.

I would advise against driving into the historic center, as, except for the two main streets that offer some roadside spaces, the others have very few available spots.

Outside the historic center, however, there is a paid parking lot just outside Porta Padova, adjacent to the walls. If you wish to park for several hours or if the Porta Padova parking lot is full, you can opt for Via Europa, where numerous free parking spaces are available.

On any given day, it is quite easy to find parking along the road leading to Porta Bassano or in one of the nearby streets. In these cases, parking is also free.

Cittadella is pure medieval charm and a perfect destination for a weekend getaway. From walking along the Cittadella Walls and visiting museums to enjoying a delicious meal in a local restaurant, this fortified town in the heart of Veneto offers unforgettable moments of discovery and relaxation.

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