ARCHITECTURE + AIRBORNE European Travels: MONTAGNANA, ITALIA

August 23, 2015
Montagnana was a great find. PJ and I tend to explore any and all towns that we can find and after two and a half years it has become difficult to find places we haven't been to in our area. After lots of research I came across Montagnana, which is situated on the southern plain of Padova between the Euganean Hills. It is most famed for the surrounding medieval wall built between the 12th and the 14th centuries, although the most ancient settlement documented in the territory dates to the end of the 4th/beginning of the 3rd millennium B.C. Montagnana is also the birthplace of Giovanni Martinelli and Aureliano Pertile, two of the most famous opera tenors from the 20th century.

This walled city is thought to have the 'most well preserved medieval wall in Europe". It is two kilometers long with 24 polygonal crenellated towers and four gates, two of which are fortified with castle-like battlements. I enjoyed walking along the cobblestone road which follows along the wall as well as through the grassy field outside of the fortification. It is a shame that one cannot walk along the top of the wall like the one in Cittadella.

The city is about 40 minutes from Vicenza and is easy to get to. I happened to spot Villa Poiana along the way so I made a quick pit stop and then continued a few more minutes to the city walls. It was a Sunday so the city was pretty quiet and most stores were closed. Locals made their way to the many restaurants and cafes for lunch or a mid-day spritz while the Italian bike groups were in full swing, pausing briefly at the cathedral for a visit.

The castle of San Zeno [Below] is considered the most impressive medieval building in Montagnana. It was built by Ezzelino III da Romano, who torched the city in 1242 but then realized what a strategic location it was [between Verona and Padova] so he rebuilt and refortified the area. The building is also well preserved with very little damage to the facade.

The Gothic cathedral [Below] is the most important religious centers in the town and was built in 1431. It has been renovated throughout history and some late Renaissance style additions have been made. The interior is gorgeous and is home to works such as the Transfiguration made by Paolo Veronese. It can be found along the main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.

Palazzo Magnavin-Foratti [Below] is a Venetian Gothic style building located along Via Giacomo Matteotti.

Other sights within the walls of Montagnana…

Ornate chimneys

Monastero Clarisse S. Francesco

Arcaded sidewalks

Villa Pisani of Montagnana is located right outside of the walls on the corner of the Porta Padova entrance intersections. It is privately owned so it is not opened to the public but it is worth a quick walk. It was built between 1552 and 1555 by Andrea Palladio for Francesco Pisani. The villa resembles more of a palazzo than a villa due to its urban setting and lack of land.