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Este

Dominating the urban landscape and standing as a symbol of the Euganean Hills along with the city walls, the Keep of the Carrarese Castle rises at the apex of the triangle formed by the town's fortifications. Already mentioned in documents from the 11th century, the Keep was originally flanked by a small church, likely incorporated into the defensive structures completed by the Carrarese family.

One of the most iconic views of the Keep can be seen from the City Wall Gate, historically adorned with a majestic wisteria vine that adds to its charm. This viewpoint has been captured in countless photographs, becoming one of the most representative images of Este.

The Keep Tower marks the central axis of the city: from it begins the town’s *cardo*, the main north-south street, which runs through the historic center along Via Matteotti, eventually reaching another major symbol of Este, the Porta Vecchia Tower.

The surrounding park was also designed to highlight the view of the Keep: thanks to the careful placement of trees, the tower remains visible all the way from the Torre Bridge, offering a unique perspective that spans the entire city of Este.

**History and Architecture**  
Built between 1339 and 1340, the Keep has a square plan, with each side measuring 5.75 meters and a height of about 21 meters. It stands on the foundations of a pre-existing pentagonal tower dating back to the Este period. Archaeological excavations carried out in the early 1990s uncovered the remains of the late-Este keep base, built around 1220 by Marquis Azzo VII d’Este.

The area underwent major restoration between 1994 and 1996, which allowed for the recovery and enhancement of the entire complex. Later, in 2001, an additional intervention unified the visual appearance of the Keep with the surrounding walls and towers, improving overall integration. However, the growth of vegetation in the garden has made the ancient structures located at the highest point of the enclosure less immediately visible. We invite you to visit one of Este’s most fascinating monuments—a symbol of a past that still lives in the heart of the city.

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Keep

Keep of Castello Carrarese

The Carrarese Castle of Este, a majestic testament to the strategic and cultural importance of the Este area in the Middle Ages, stands imposingly at the southern end of the Euganean Hills, enclosed by a powerful city wall about one kilometer long. Its large towers and defensive system tell a story of power, warfare, and cultural splendor.

**Origins: a castrum with ancient roots**  
The oldest part of the fortification lies on the elevated side of the hill, where the remains of a small church and the foundations of a tower—probably dating back to the 6th century AD—are still visible.  
The first mention of an actual *castrum* dates to 1115, when the structure was entrusted to the feudal family that took its name from Este. Initially a defensive stronghold, the castle took on a dual role as a territorial protector and the center of the jurisdictional power of the Marquises of Este, who ruled the area.  
Between the 12th and early 13th centuries, the Este family expanded the fortress by building new walls and residential buildings. During the rule of Azzo VI d’Este, the fortress reached its peak, becoming an important center of troubadour culture. Poets, artists, and jesters animated the marquis’s court, celebrating his deeds and the beauty of his daughter, Beatrice d’Este, a renowned lady and patron of the time.

**Wars and destruction: the decline of the Este castle**  
The castle, at the heart of Este power, was repeatedly involved in the violent wars between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Aligned with the Guelphs, the Este family suffered numerous sieges that severely damaged the fortification.  
In 1249, the castle was destroyed by Ezzelino III da Romano, the Ghibelline lord of Padua, who later restored it. However, in 1294, with control of Este firmly in Paduan hands, the castle was demolished again at the will of the city of Padua.

**The Carrarese reconstruction**  
The current configuration of the castle dates to 1339, when Ubertino da Carrara, lord of Padua, decided to rebuild it as a formidable and modern military fortification. The castle was equipped with a mighty wall, reinforced by master towers and turrets, protecting both the flat and hilly parts of the structure.  
At the beginning of the 15th century, following the voluntary submission of the city of Este to the Republic of Venice, a second wall was built to enclose the new urban center, bordered by the Bisatto Canal.

**From noble palace to decline**  
Over time, as the castle’s strategic importance declined, it lost its military function. In 1570, the wealthy and powerful Venetian Mocenigo family purchased the complex and began constructing a sumptuous palace on the southern side of the Carrarese fortification.  
The Mocenigo Palace was composed of two symmetrical buildings, but its construction required the demolition of some medieval towers. Unfortunately, the eastern wing of the palace was destroyed by a fire in the 18th century, leaving only the western part standing, which now houses the Atestine Archaeological Museum.

**The Carrarese Castle today**  
In 1887, the Municipality of Este purchased the entire castle complex, designating it for public use. The large green area within the walls was transformed into public gardens, inaugurated in 1915.  
Today, the Carrarese Castle is a magnificent historic park, home to valuable tree species and centuries-old plants. Its impeccably maintained green spaces provide a charming setting for lush blooms, pleasant walks, and numerous cultural events, including the important spring event “Este in Fiore.”  
The remaining part of the Mocenigo Palace now houses the prestigious collections of the Atestine Archaeological Museum, which preserves extraordinary artifacts related to the ancient Veneti civilization and the history of the region.

**A journey into medieval history**  
The Carrarese Castle of Este represents an extraordinary example of medieval architecture and a symbol of the historical and cultural events that shaped the Este territory. With its gardens, imposing walls, and the historical and archaeological wealth of the museum, the castle is today an unmissable stop for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the history of Este and its glorious past.

Castle

Castello Carrarese

The Soccorso Complex, an integral part of the Carrarese Castle of Este, is a structure of great historical and architectural value. It stands out for the presence of the Torre del Soccorso, one of the three main towers of the castle, called “maistre” or mastii, which, unlike the 14 smaller towers (or “torresini”), were more powerful and equipped with internal accesses. The castle was built between 1339 and 1340 by order of Ubertino da Carrara, lord of Padua.
Of the three main towers, two remain today: the summit keep and the Soccorso keep. The third tower, called “del Tormento” (located to the south, near the entrance to the village of Este), was demolished in the second half of the sixteenth century to make room for the construction of the Palazzo Mocenigo, now home to the Museo Nazionale Atestino. A trace of this tower is visible in the rough medieval masonry preserved on the terrace of the palace that dominates the entrance to the Gardens.
The Torre del Soccorso, so called because of the presence of an escape route that connected the castle to the top of the hill, served as the northern access gate to the castle. It was strategically positioned along the foothill road that connected Este to Monselice and Padua, an important communication and defense artery.

Tower and Walls

Complesso del Soccorso del Castello Carrarese

The Church of San Martino is the oldest church in Este. It is located in the heart of the city’s historic center, just a few steps from Piazza Maggiore along Via Principe Umberto. The first documents attesting to its existence date back to the early 11th century, though its foundation is likely even earlier. Some scholars place its origins in the Lombard or Carolingian period, based on its dedication to Saint Martin of Tours, a 6th-century French bishop.

Despite the alterations made over the centuries, the building has preserved much of its medieval structure and stands as the city’s oldest religious monument. Compared to the original construction, the apse was expanded in the early 14th century, incorporating the nearby chapel of San Lorenzo. In the 17th century, the church’s central body was extended by about four meters, moving the façade westward and dividing the interior into three naves, which also incorporated the bell tower.

The gabled façade, which clearly reflects Romanesque architectural style, is notable for its simplicity. The apse structure, composed of a cylindrical drum with a hemispherical dome and a conical roof, shares construction features with the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, giving the building a strong stylistic coherence.

One of the church’s most distinctive elements is the leaning bell tower, the oldest part of the monument. The tower, approximately 23 meters tall, shows a pronounced tilt that already appeared in the 14th century but has never compromised its stability. On one side of the tower, a Gothic inscription celebrates the saint to whom the church is dedicated and records the year of its reconstruction: 1293.

Inside the Church of San Martino are preserved several valuable artworks. In the main chapel stands an 18th-century marble altar with a tabernacle and two angel sculptures by Antonio Bonazza. In the Chapel of San Lorenzo, a 14th-century fresco in the Giotto style depicts *Christ Crucified between Mary and Saint John*. Along the right wall of the nave are the remains of a triptych showing the *Madonna and Child with Saint Peter* and other saints, while a fragment of fresco depicts the *Crucifixion of Saint Margaret of Antioch*.

On the left side of the nave is the 16th-century polychrome marble altar of the Rota family, originally dedicated to Saint Stephen. The niches of this altar once held three statues, of which those depicting Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian are now preserved at the National Atestine Museum. The predella above the altar features scenes from the lives of the three saints, showing from left to right: *Saint Roch captured and taken to prison*, *Saint Stephen dragged before the Sanhedrin*, and *Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian*.

Today, the Church of San Martino is part of the parish of the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie and can be visited on Sundays during certain times of the year.

Church

San Martino

The Rocca di Ponte della Torre, built to defend the ancient city of Este, rises majestically beside the Frassine River and is one of the few remaining examples of medieval fortifications in the area. It forms a key part of the extensive system of fortified outposts constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries, designed to protect the main access routes to the city.

Like the nearby Castle of Este, the Rocca di Ponte della Torre has experienced numerous historical events. Likely destroyed during the raids of Ezzelino da Romano, the tower was later occupied by the Scaligeri. However, it was under the rule of the Carraresi that the fortress took on the form we see today, around the mid-14th century, when the strategic value of the site was fully recognized. During the Venetian period, the fortress was further enhanced, with the addition of a floor that brought its height to 24 meters. The Venetians removed the original battlements and added large round-arched windows, giving the tower a more imposing appearance.

In 1597, having lost its military function, the Serenissima ceded the fortress to the Municipality of Este. In the following centuries, around the square tower—which remained the heart of the complex—an oratory and some rustic buildings were constructed, transforming the ancient stronghold into an integral part of the town’s landscape.  
The Rocca di Ponte della Torre, a symbol of resilience and protection, remains today a silent witness to past eras and an important historical attraction.

Fortress

Rocca di Ponte della Torre

Itinerario Medievale