11 Activities to Do in Cittadella, Italy—The Town Enclosed by Walkable Wall: We cordially welcome you to see Cittadella, the most exquisite walled city in Europe. Situated near all of the major cities in the region, Cittadella enjoys a strategic location in the center of the Veneto Region in Northern Italy. It is only three hours from Milan or Florence and 60 kilometers from Venice and Verona (one hour by vehicle).

With a daily voyage from Cittadella, you may easily reach the Dolomite Alps and the water of the Venetian Lagoon. Given its central location, it is undoubtedly a great place to start while exploring the Veneto and all of Northern Italy. Not only is Cittadella Europe’s most exquisite walled city, but it’s also the best-preserved the only walled city in Europe.

Its establishment goes back to 1220, giving it a medieval origin. This explains the significant historical importance of its walls, which in 2020 commemorated 800 years of history and foundation.

Being the only walled city in all of Europe with an elliptical, fully accessible medieval promenade, Cittadella’s walls are striking and serve as a symbol of all the walled cities in the region.

11 Activities to Do in Cittadella

Cittadella is a fantastic day trip destination in the Veneto area of Northern Italy, and it’s easily accessible by car and rail from Vicenza, Padua, as well as Venice and Verona. You can feel the true pulse of Italian life in this charming tiny town. There are several seasonal events to enjoy, the most notable of which is a sizable medieval reenactment that takes place in September. Above all, there are a lot of fascinating places to see in Cittadella.

Cittadella’s defense wall is the most important of all. This towering rampart dates back to the 13th century and is made of river stones and red bricks. You may stroll on it to enjoy views of the surrounding mountains, the Venetian plains, and the old center. It protrudes over the town’s rooftops.

Towers, turrets, gates, and keeps are scattered around the wall. A continuous promenade encircles it at elevations ranging from 14 to 30 meters! One of the finest experiences you can have off the main path in Italy is to find oneself up there, walking in the footsteps of medieval sentinels. Your heart is warmed by the expansive vistas, and you can appreciate how birds must feel as they look down on the earth. Additionally

History of Cittadella

This region has Bronze Age towns, and Cittadella had a significant part in Roman history as the Via Postumia commerce route passed through it.

Nonetheless, the history of Cittadella as it exists now started in the Middle Ages (1220). To protect the area surrounding Padua, the town originally grew into a little walled city, thus the name Cittadella, or a small city.

Cittadella was taken by several Italian lords despite its defenses. Among them were Da Romano in the 13th century, the Scaligeri, Da Carrara, and the Venetians starting in 1406 (except for a brief spell between 1483 and 1509).

When Venice was in power, Cittadella had significant military and civic advancements, such as the bolstering of the defensive walls.

Following Venice’s collapse during the Napoleonic era, the town was ruled by the French, Austrians, and finally the Kingdom of Italy until 1866.

Explore Cittadella

Cittadella’s walled town has a unique structure that is nearly round; most other medieval strongholds were four-sided. Constructed with stones from the Brenta River, Cittadella’s walls span about 1400 meters in length and rise to a height of 12 to 13 meters, perched atop a hill encircled by a moat.

Starting at this defensive wall, a sightseeing tour to Cittadella can include a stroll around the ramparts (entry fee required) and a chance to gaze down on the city from within the walls.

Constructed in 1251, the Tower of Malta is a noteworthy destination. Built by the dreadful and brutal dictator Ezzelino da Romano, it was formerly a jail.

Today, the tower serves as the Archaeological Museum, housing a variety of artifacts from various eras—mostly ceramic and bronze—that have been found during excavations, including the Bronze, Roman, and Medieval Ages.

The 16th-century Cittadella cathedral, which Domenico Cerato and Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi renovated in the 18th century in a neoclassical style, is housed inside the formidable walls.

The cathedral sacristy features paintings from the 16th-century Venetian School as well as pieces by some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists of the 1500s, including Jacopo Bassano (The Supper at Emmaus), Palma the Younger (The Flagellation), Andrea da Murano (The Deposition), and Apollonio Domenichini (The Virgin Mary of the Cintola).

The Town Hall, which was also erected during the Venetian era, is located in Cittadella.

The 16th-century Praetorian Palace and the Theatre, constructed in 1828 by Giacomo Bauto and featuring a neoclassical front designed by Giuseppe Jappelli, are two other noteworthy structures.

11 Activities to Do in Cittadella, Italy—The Town Enclosed by Walkable Wall

1. Discover the Museums Housed Within Cittadella, Italy’s Medieval Wall Keeps

The next best thing to do up there, after taking in the breathtaking views from the Ronda Walkway, is to visit the little museums located in some of the medieval towers and strongholds along Cittadella’s wall

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The starting point for your tour of Cittadella’s wall is the town’s tourism office, located inside the historic Casa del Capitano (Captain’s House). This robust medieval structure is located near the tower of Porta Bassano, the northern gate.

If you have driven to Cittadella, there is a sizable parking lot outside at the base of the wall where you may leave your car. If not, it would take ten to fifteen minutes to walk to the town’s train station.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance or in person on the day of the event at the Casa del Capitano’s tourist office. Your tour begins with its ancient chambers, which have murals from the Middle Ages. A tiny display of re-created armor, costumes, and arms is seen here.

These are part of a community group that organizes Cittadella’s annual September medieval reenactment. Check out this blog post’s point 8 for further information.

The Ronda Walkway circumnavigation starts at the rampart, which is accessible from the top level of the Casa del Capitano. You will pass the Torre di Malta en route, which was constructed as a jail in 1251.

The tower is a component of Porta Padova, one of the four gates that make up the defensive wall of Cittadella. Fantastic views of the surroundings may be had from the Belvedere, the panoramic terrace atop the Torre di Malta.

At over thirty meters above ground, the eye sees a great distance. When the skies are clear, you may see the Alpine foothills and other groupings of hills in Veneto.

Scattered throughout Cittadella’s Historic Center in Italy

Cittadella’s historic center is quite charming. It’s also simple to traverse in a short length of time because it’s small and enclosed by the defensive wall from the Middle Ages.

While strolling around the ancient center of Cittadella, several buildings and features that are characteristic of medieval towns in Italy will catch your eye. Long porticoes, or enclosed pavements, protrude over the top floors of the nearby buildings.

Ancient façades are adorned with fading paintings. To shield the interior rooms from the intense summer heat, the windows are equipped with wooden shutters. Add to that the abundance of exquisite wrought-iron accents.

Cittadella’s central point of reference is Piazza Pierobon. This is the large center square of the town. A lovely row of homes encircles it, and the massive structure of the town’s cathedral towers over it.

Like any other little Italian town, Cittadella is home to a sizable number of pubs that serve up delicious Italian coffees, as well as hearty meals of crustless sandwiches and pieces of pizza. In addition, there are several fantastic bakeries, wonderful restaurants, patisseries, and stores offering Italian shoes and clothing.

You can linger here for as long as you like. There’s a ton of stuff to go through. The explanations of the many kinds of shields used throughout the Middle Ages were really interesting to me. Undoubtedly, there existed a wide range of them, each serving a distinct function.

You can go back to street level from the Torre di Malta if, for whatever reason, you decide against continuing your journey down the Ronda Walkway.

Take a stroll along Cittadella, Italy’s medieval wall

• You find yourself staring through the little gaps in the crenelated wall next to you as you pause to take in all this beauty beneath your feet. The first thing you notice is the extensive freshwater moat that entirely encircles Cittadella’s fortifications.
• More homes were constructed once Cittadella’s medieval ramparts became too small, and they were located beyond the moat. Miles of flat as a pancake Venetian lands spread out in front of them.
• The azure sky of Veneto is aspired to by sharply snow-capped, towering mountains on the horizon. It’s stunning! Its average thickness is 2.1 m, and its length is over 1,5 km. When building it, seven distinct masonry methods were used.
• It contains twelve towers, sixteen turrets, four keeps, and four gates. The wall creates an oval ring that is nearly continuous.
• Due to an attack during the 16th-century Wars of the League of Cambrai, just a little piece of it remains gone. These days, the wall is completed with a metal stairway that spans the chasm.
• It’s fascinating to note that the defense wall is foundationless! Rather, it is supported by massive embankments that were built both inside and outside the wall during the moat’s excavation.
• The integrity of the rampart was compromised centuries ago when the villagers began to take earth from the embankments. It may appear to be tilting backward in certain places, and the walkway may look to be thrusting up slightly when you walk on it.
• Do not fret! After years of meticulous restoration, Cittadella’s wall is finally completely accessible.
• The tourists go about two kilometers on a circuit that winds past several keeps and towers and the Ronda Walkway.

• Generally, one hour to one and a half is needed to fully explore Cittadella’s medieval walled historic center. But don’t hurry it! This place offers a ton of picture chances. Even just pausing to take it all in is a unique experience.
• The Ronda Walkway is frequently used for special occasions. Cittadella’s wall is an important component of social life in this little ancient town in Italy, featuring anything from a real Nativity Scene at Christmas to concerts of medieval music by candlelight.

You can book your online tickets on booking.com, and Agoda.com and find the best flights at tripadvisor.com.