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Abano Terme is the ideal starting point for the
discovery of the many Venetian walled cities.
For the region of Veneto the Middle Ages were a
time of barbarian invasions and great rivalry
between fiefs and local rulers who owned castles
and built strong walls surrounding the cities.
This happened in Padua, Verona, Este, Monselice,
Montagnana, Cittadella, Marostica, Feltre, Soave
and many other cities.
Other fortresses were built on borderline land
in order to guard and sight a possible enemy. |
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For this reason lots of
castles and fortresses were erected in strategic places
in order to check rivers, plains, narrow passages and
valleys.
Today some major cities still keep the walls and some of
them (Padua, Verona, Treviso) have a second wall outside
the first, built during the Renaissance under the
Venetian rule when the "Serenissima" had to defend
itself first from the Viscount of Milan and later from
the imperial power, supporter of the Cambrai League.
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MONTAGNANA
Montagnana is famous for the rectangular ring of
its walls, built in the XIII century: it is one
of the most beautiful and best preserved in
Italy.
Throughout the centuries the city has guarded
it's traditions, the most important of them is
the famous "Palio dei Dieci Comuni" which takes
place every first Sunday of September as the
highest moment of a folkloristic and evocative
event. |
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ESTE
Este is an ancient city; a very important centre
during the Middle Ages, first ruled by the
Estensi Seigniory, from whom it takes it's name,
then by the Carraresi of Ferrara who in the XVI
century rebuilt the castle that can still be
seen today. |
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MONSELICE
Monselice is in a place that has always had a
strategic importance both from a trading and
military point of view. The hill "della Rocca"
that dominates the area, was fortified many
times and the town enclosed by walls. The well
kept historical centre is overlooked by the
Carraresi castle which in the XVI century was
turned into the house of the Venetian Marcello
family. |
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THE CASTLES
During the Middle Ages the defensive system of
the cities was increased by the building of
castles within the city walls or as strategic
outposts
on the land's borderlines. Wars sometimes caused
the abandoning of these structures, though some
can still be admired. A journey through the
Paduan region will allow you to discover the
castles of Monselice, Este, St. Pelagio in Due Carrare,
Valbona and St. Martino in the Euganean
Hills Park. |
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