Description
The Castello Carrarese, or Castelvecchio, is Padua's medieval fortress overlooking Piazza Castello, where the Bacchiglione splits into two branches: towers and walls that tell eight centuries of history, from the lord Ezzelino III da Romano to the 19th-century prison.
Its heart is the Torlonga, the 9th-century tower that in 1777 became the astronomical observatory of the Specola, the easiest part to visit. The Carraresi, lords of the city in the 14th century, painted the towers in a white and red checkerboard.
The castle was built from 1237 for Ezzelino, with bricks taken from his enemies' houses. Even the architect of the towers, Zilio, ended up in its dungeons, which were named "Zilie" after him.
From 1807 to the late 20th century the castle was a prison. In 2022 it passed to the City of Padua, which wants to turn it into a museum.
Its heart is the Torlonga, the 9th-century tower that in 1777 became the astronomical observatory of the Specola, the easiest part to visit. The Carraresi, lords of the city in the 14th century, painted the towers in a white and red checkerboard.
The castle was built from 1237 for Ezzelino, with bricks taken from his enemies' houses. Even the architect of the towers, Zilio, ended up in its dungeons, which were named "Zilie" after him.
From 1807 to the late 20th century the castle was a prison. In 2022 it passed to the City of Padua, which wants to turn it into a museum.