Este – Little Middle Age Town In The Euganean Hills

Passing in the country-side of Padua I ended in Este. It is a small middle age town with a beautiful center and interesting castle. Because of the rain I chose the castle to visit.

Este is a town in the province of Padua in the Veneto region. It’s situated just at the beginning of the Euganean hills. The place seems to be famous for crafts. But I saw also a lot of industry and farming.

I read about the Este culture I didn’t know before it exists. It’s going from the late Bronze age to the Roman period. Azzo II was the one who first built a castle here in the 10th century and named himself and his family after the place: Este. The house of Este held the city until the mid 13th century moving then to Ferrara. The small city was under the Republic of Venice and later part of the Austrian Empire before becoming part of the kingdom of Italy.

The castle I visited is not the original one but from 14th century and built by Ubertino da Carrara. Unfortunately it was destroyed to the actual state by Ezzelino da Romano in 1249.

It is surrounded by a high wall and has a church and a big central building. The wall has 12 towers and the central building is situated on a hill overlooking the walls and the city outside. This building has a huge square tower and was built for defense.

When Este started to be part on the Republic of Venice the castle lost its role and went in property of a private family, the Mocenigo. They built the small palace wherein today is situated a museum.

Today the whole construction is a public park. I saw a stage so I think they do theater or music as well here.

On a sign-post I read that the tower is now only 10 meters high but originally it was 30 meters high. In the museum there are a lot of artifacts found in the late 1994 when the structure got a restoration. There are also artifacts from the Roman time and much earlier. Now the city has no great importance anymore but in the past it was one of the most remarkable places in the Venetian region.

From the (closed) castle I had a great view on the city center. The whole park is nice to walk and sit in the shadows of the trees, listening to the birds and smelling the scent of the flowers.

I found a tree adorned with a lot of terracotta masks. I think – but don’t know – those are the faces of beloved people. Maybe who died but more I think of the ones one is in love.


Este, Veneto/Italy:


For further information:
Padua
Este


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