Cittadella, Italy

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Visit Cittadella

Cittadella stands as a fortified outpost of Padua in the area between the River Brenta and Musone, north of Padua and Vicenza.

Recent excavations show that it was an area of ancient settlement dating back to the Bronze Age, and the area of Cittadella had an important role in Roman times, because it was crossed by the Via Postumia trade route.

It is in the Middle Ages (1220), however, that the history of Cittadella starts it developed as a small walled city ("Cittadella" or small city) to defend the territory of Padua. Despite the fortifications Cittadella frequently changed hands between the greatest Italian Seignoiries; for example, it was conquered by Da Romano in the 13th century, then the Scaligeri, the Da Carrara, and finally, from 1406, by the Venetians (who gave it to the Condottiere Pandolfo Malatesta in 1483, but retook control in 1509 after the war of Venice against the League of Cambrai). Under the rule of the Serenissima, Cittadella had substantial civil and military developments, including reinforcement of the defensive.

With the fall of Venice, in the Napoleonic age, it came under French and then under Austrian rule before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

The walled town of Cittadella has an unusual, almost circular, structure (other medieval fortresses were usually four-sided). The walls of Cittadella, built with stones of the Brenta river, have a considerable length, over 1400 meters and a height of 12 - 13 meters, standing on a mound surrounded by a moat. A sightseeing tour to the Cittadella starts from this defensive wall - perhaps with a walk around the ramparts (entrance charge), and a chance to look down on the city within the walls.

Well worth a visit is the so-called Tower of Malta, dating from 1251. Formerly a prison built by the terrible and cruel tyrant Ezzelino da Romano, it is today used as the Archaeological Museum, and includes various finds (ceramic and bronze) of different periods including the Bronze, Roman and medieval Ages - discovered during the excavations.

Inside the imposing walls stands the 16th century cathedral, rebuilt in neoclassical style by Domenico Cerato (1715-1792) and Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi (1719-1790). In the sacristy there are the works of some exciting emerging artists of the 1500s, such as Jacopo Bassano ( The Supper at Emmaus), Palma the Younger (The Flagellation), Andrea da Murano (The Deposition), Apollonio Domenichini (The Virgin Mary of the Cintola) and some paintings from the Venetian School of the sixteenth century.

Note the Town Hall, which was also rebuilt at the time of Venetian rule. Of particular interest is the Theater, built in 1828 by Giacomo Bauto and the neoclassical facade by Giuseppe Jappelli (1783-1852) and, finally, the Praetorian Palace (XVI century).

Places to visit near Cittadella

The more recent urban sprawl that surrounds the city is less enticing to visitors, but one recommendation is the Church of San Donato, dating back to the High Middle Ages (9th-10th century) just outside Cittadella on the road to Padua. You can see some beautiful paintings including a 15th century Madonna and Child and a St. Anthony of Padua and other saints.

Cittadella cuisine

While on the edges of the town, both in San Donato and in the vicinity you can enjoy various traditional local dishes: roasted or boiled duck, beans, the classic polenta, and very tasty fish caught in the river Brenta, best accompanied by the famous wines of the Veneto: Merlot, Novello, White, Prosecco, Pinot Blanc and Muscat. "Prosit!"

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