The Castle of San Martino della Vaneza is located along the bank of the Bacchiglione river, which has represented, since ancient times, an important strategic center for military defense and later a renowned reference for commercial traffic.
Around the year 1000, the first defense system was constituted by the characteristic tower over twenty meters high. In 1324, the Carraresi became owners of the Castle of San Martino, implementing important renovations that involved the trachyte stone enclosure and the tower, making it more sophisticated with a series of protruding brick battlements.
Organized on six floors, even today we can find the characteristic signs of a structure intended for military defense, such as the high and narrow slit windows located on the ground floor of the enclosure.
The year 1405 was when the Venetians transformed the castle into a true commercial center, developing a thriving and functional river port. The main activity involved the distribution of semi-finished wood products from the nearby forests, needed by the Venetian shipyards.
From 1930 to 1978, the owners of the castle were the Antonini Papavafa of the Carraresi. From 1979 to the present, it has belonged to the province of Padua, which, thanks to an important process of enhancement and recovery of ancient artifacts, allowed, in 1995, the opening of the Archaeological Museum of the Bacchiglione River. The Museum allows visitors to learn about the fascinating history of the populations that inhabited the floodplain, fully enjoying the spectacle of the surrounding nature.
Today, the Castle of San Martino hosts beautiful events, such as medieval reenactments and themed festivals.
