“Show and Tell”: Castle Trekking in the Paduan Countryside

On this week’s Italy “Show and Tell”, I’m delighted to have Susan Nelson share photos from her amazing journey last September through the castles of Montagnana and Este in the Paduan countryside.

Adventurous by nature, Susan thoroughly enjoys exploring historical monuments steeped in dramatic history. They have their own story to tell. For more on her stories, follow Susan on Twitter @evabellalucia.

6 Favorite Photos from Castle Trekking in the Paduan Countryside

1. Castles with towers, moats and ramparts are notoriously the backdrop for great novels. The countryside of Padua is full of them….and they are in remarkably great shape. It doesn’t take much to feel like you have suddenly stepped back into the medieval ages, with battle scenes and ladies in distress.

The Castle of Este- also known as “the garden castle.”

2. Este, a village nestled at the foot of the Euganean hills, is just 30 kilometers south of Padua. All that is left of the ancient Castle of Este are the fortified walls spaced by twelve towers that encircle the town. Built on the ruins of an earlier fortress in 1348 by Ubertino da Carrara, it was constructed on a square base. The Keep, a fortified tower of refuge, stands high on a hill in the center of the castle grounds flaunting a bright yellow flag.

Castle towers and ramparts from the outside

3. Today the castle grounds are bedecked with beautiful gardens of roses, trimmed shrubs, aromatic plants, lemon and olive trees. Large trees provide refreshing shade while murmuring fountains and mythical statues create an atmosphere of serenity.

Mythical statues line the lovely gardens in the castle

4. Montagnana, located about fifty kilometers from Padua, is surrounded by one of the best medieval walls in Europe. Estimated to be nearly two kilometers long, they remain perfectly intact today. Built in the 13th century on top of previous castle ruins, it is the oldest one in the area. Up until the 17th century the castle was completely surrounded by a moat and was accessible only by a series of drawbridges.

Fortress Walls of the Castle of San Zeno

5. The Tower of Ezzelino (center) is 38 meters high and served as a look-out and signalling turret. It originally had seven floors corresponding to the offset walls and a pyramid-shaped roof. Today, the tower offers tremendous views of the Euganean Hills and the surrounding Veneto countryside.

Crenelated entrance through the Castle. You can actually drive a car through the archway and proceed down the road.

6. San Zeno Castle is now home to the Civic Museum, with archaeological displays ranging from the neolithic period to Roman times. There is also a medieval and modern section to explore.

This Castle Keep stands tall and impenetrable

Thanks again Susan for these lovely photos and being a part of Italy “Show and Tell”. As I have a penchant for gardens and off-the-beaten places, I will certainly add this to my bucket list.