Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio, formerly known as Castello della Torlonga, is a fortification in Padua, located in the southern part of the historical center of the city.

The castle assumed the name of Castelvecchio (Old Castle) when the construction of Castelnuovo (New Castle) began in 1513.

It was also called Castello di Ezzelino, due to the sinister charm evoked by Ezzelino III da Romano, tyrant of Padua in the 13th century.

Today, in reference to the lordship of the House of Carrara, it is frequently referred to as Castello Carrarese.

SHORT HISTORY OF CASTELVECCHIO

The Long Tower (Torlonga) was built in the 9th century in a strategic area, where the Bacchiglione River is dividing into Tronco Maestro and Naviglio.

Between the 10th and 11th centuries, the tower was surrounded by a short wall that protected it.

In 1237, Ezzelino III da Romano, tyrant of Padua, began building a castle around Torlonga and added another tower.

Starting with 1241, Ezzelino planned the repression of the Guelph opposition and thus began to segregate the prisoners in the basement of the new castle and in the towers.

In 1256, the Crusaders entered Padua at the behest of Pope Alexander IV and occupied the city.

The castle resisted for three days, but Ezzelino III da Romano was eventually defeated.

Castelvecchio

After the tyrant fell, the fortifications were abandoned until the lordship of the House of Carrara, which started at the beginning of the 14th century.

In 1374, the Carraresi had the castle rebuilt, including the two towers.

With the construction of the city walls by Bartolomeo d’Alviano, the strategic value of the castle was diminished.

In 1777, Torlonga was transformed into an astronomical observatory (specula), hence the current name of the tower, La Specola.

The castle served as a prison until the end of the Second World War.

HOW TO GET TO CASTELVECCHIO

Castelvecchio is located about 2.1 kilometers on foot from the Padua railway station.

The closest bus stop is in Via Pasquale Paoli 14, located about 400 meters away, on the bus Lines M, TL, U05 and U12.