Cittadella: walk back in history on the Medieval battlements

What it is and where it is

The Ronda Walk is a nearly two-kilometer walkway at a height of 15 meters above the walls of Cittadella. Cittadella was erected by the Carraresi, lords of Padua, in 1220 and is one of the most beautiful fortified cities in Europe, the only example with an elliptical shape that is completely walkable. Along the walls soar 36 towers of various sizes placed about 40 meters apart. The walls have almost no foundations, and the embankments inside and outside them provide support. All around is a wide moat of resurgent water. Suggestive is the lighting at night.

Why it is special

We arrive at Porta Bassanese, which, at 30 meters high and no less than 5 defensive arches, is the most imposing of the four gates to the city. From here we ascend to the walkway and, like the lookouts of ancient times, we walk along the narrow walkway overlooking the battlements and climbing the highest towers. From above, we admire the city within the walls and its Roman-derived urban design; all around is the countryside and, on clear days, we can even see the Euganean Hills, the Berici Mountains and the Pedemontana del Grappa. Let us be seduced by the medieval atmosphere in the frescoed hall of the Casa del Capitano della Guardia, or by the view from the top of the Belvedere, over the massive Tower of Malta, almost thirty meters high.