Castle, Medieval fortress in Bassano del Grappa, Italy

The castle of the Ezzelini, or upper castle, stands on the hill of Santa Maria in Colle in Bassano del Grappa. Its walls, 7.50 to 13.50 metres high, are built of alternating courses of brick and pebbles taken from the nearby Brenta. Two parallel concentric enclosures ring the summit, joined on the south by a single wall, with a patrol walk between them.

In the 13th century, Ezzelino III da Romano commanded from this location until a papal crusade brought about his downfall. The structure itself survived and was repeatedly rebuilt to meet changing military needs.

The structure shows multiple construction phases and reflects how northern Italian fortifications were built to dominate the landscape. You can see the practical military thinking in every tower and wall position.

You can reach the upper terrace through a passage near the Ser Ivano tower for views across Monte Grappa and the surrounding countryside. The path is straightforward and the site is well maintained for visitors.

The name of the Torre dell'Ortazzo comes from the walled courtyard it closes to the south-west: the Ortazzo was the burial place for people who drowned in the nearby Brenta or were suspected suicides. Since restoration work in the 1990s, this tower, the Torre di Ser Ivano and the Corpo di Guardia at the entrance to the wall walk host temporary exhibitions and the ballets and theatre performances of the OperaEstate festival.