There is a village in Veneto where you can go around the historic center without crossing its streets, but walking directly over the medieval walls. It is called Cittadella, it is located in the province of Padua and preserves one of the most evocative and best preserved city walls in Europe. The peculiarity? You can travel it entirely on foot, at about 15 meters above sea level, observing the roofs of the houses, the squares and the surrounding countryside from above.
It is not just a monument to photograph: the walls have become a real visit route, which allows you to discover the village from an unusual perspective. An experience that makes Cittadella an interesting destination for a trip out of town, especially for those who love small historic centers and walks in the open air.
The walls of Cittadella: a medieval fortification still intact
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The history of Cittadella begins in 1220, when the Municipality of Padua decided to found a fortified city in a strategic position, along the roads connecting Padua, Bassano del Grappa and other centers in the Veneto. The objective was certainly not to attract visitors, but to control the territory and defend the borders from rival cities. More than eight centuries later, that structure is still the symbol of the city.
The city walls measure approximately 1,461 meters in circumference, have an average thickness of over two meters and reach a height of approximately 14-15 metres, while some towers rise up to 30 metres. Seen from above, the fortification forms a large elliptical ring that completely encloses the historic center. Outside, the moat is still present, once an integral part of the defensive system. Four main gates can be recognized along the walls, each facing a different destination: Porta Padova, Porta Vicenza, Porta Bassano and Porta Treviso. Even today these doors represent the main accesses to the heart of the town.
The patrol walkway: a walk 15 meters high
@RebeccaManzi/GreenMe
The real attraction of Cittadella is the medieval patrol walkway, considered one of the few examples in Europe of an entirely walkable elevated path along a historic city wall. It was once used by sentries to control access to the city and identify any threats. Today it is open to visitors and allows you to walk along the entire perimeter of the walls.
The route was completely reopened in June 2013, after a long recovery and restoration project which returned an important part of its historical heritage to the city. During the walk you cross protected sections, elevated passages and towers, with always different views.
On one side you can observe the roofs and streets of the historic center, on the other the view opens onto the Venetian plain. On clear days you can also distinguish the Euganean Hills, the Berici Hills and Monte Grappa. The route features stairs and passages at high altitude: it is therefore a particular experience, but not suitable for everyone, especially those who have walking difficulties or suffer greatly from vertigo.
What to see in Cittadella besides the walls
The walls are the main reason why many visitors reach Cittadella, but it is also worth carving out a few hours to explore the historic center.
Once you get off the walkway, you can walk among porticoed streets, historic buildings and small squares, following an urban layout that still retains the characteristics of the medieval settlement.
Among the most interesting stages are:
The center is quite compact and lends itself to being visited on foot, alternating a walk on the walls with a stop in the rooms and under the arcades.
How long does it take to visit Cittadella?
@RebeccaManzi/GreenMe
To walk the entire walkway it is advisable to allow around an hour, even a little more if you stop often to observe the view or take photographs. To also visit the historic center, enter some buildings and stop to eat, half a day may be enough. Those who want to explore the surrounding area can dedicate an entire day to the trip. Cittadella is located about 30 kilometers from Padua and about twenty kilometers from Bassano del Grappa. It can also be reached by train, thanks to the train station located a short distance from the centre. The walkway is accessible with an entrance ticket, while the opening hours change during the year. It is therefore advisable to check them before your visit, especially in the winter months or in case of bad weather.
An example of how to recover historical heritage without transforming it into a museum
The peculiarity of Cittadella does not only concern the beauty of its fortifications, but also the way in which they were recovered and made accessible. The restoration of the walkway made it possible to conserve a medieval work and, at the same time, to give it a new public function, without distorting its historical value. It is an interesting example of valorisation of existing cultural heritage: rather than building a new tourist attraction, it was decided to recover a structure that was already part of the city’s identity. And perhaps this is precisely the most interesting aspect of Cittadella: what eight hundred years ago served to keep people outside the walls has today become one of the main reasons for entering them.
