Cittadella, Medieval walled town in Province of Padua, Italy.
Cittadella is a fortified commune in the Province of Padua in northeastern Italy, whose circular brick walls enclose the entire historic center. Four gates open toward the cardinal directions and connect the old town with the modern outer districts.
The fortress town was founded in 1220 by Padua to create a military outpost against Treviso and followed an innovative construction plan with double-walled structures. It later came under the control of Verona, Milan, and Venice before becoming part of the Italian state in the 19th century.
The central square takes its name from a local citizen and is dominated by the baroque cathedral, whose interior displays works by Venetian painters from the 16th and 17th centuries. The community also uses the walls and inner core for events that bring life back between the old stones.
A walk along the walls allows visitors to cover about half the perimeter on the upper parapet, with access starting from the main gate. Sturdy footwear is recommended because the steps are narrow and sometimes steep.
The Torre di Malta once served as a prison and now houses a small museum with medieval finds from the surrounding area. The archives also hold documents about Ezzelino da Romano, the feared governor who imprisoned his opponents here in the 13th century.
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