Palazzo della Loggetta, Via del Santuario 6 Monselice 35043 Monselice
Mura cittadine
Location: Monselice
The oldest fortification dates back to the Byzantine era (6th century): it is a wall that encompassed about three hectares at the top of the hill of the Rocca, built to withstand the Longobards. Already in the early 7th century, it underwent alterations. Sections of these walls are still visible in multiple places and were used as defensive structures by the people of Monselice for a long time. The first accidental mention concerning the existence of a fortifying element of the "castellum" dates back to the year 914, suggesting the existence of other typical fortifications of the time: palisades, embankments, a drainage and defensive moat at the base of the hill.
The flat protective wall began to form after the year 1000, more plausibly between the 11th and 12th centuries. Around the mid-13th century, it was commonly referred to what was “inside” and what was “outside” the city, which could be accessed from a plurality of bridges and gates.
In the spring of 1239, Frederick II, passing through Monselice, ordered to "wall the mountain for safety.” The emperor had the walls reinforced, leaving us one of the most interesting works of military architecture of the Middle Ages. The fortification was concentrated around the southern part of the Rocca and culminated with the Mastio erected at the top of the hill. The walls from the Federician era are recognizable by their uniform construction characteristics. The surviving wall sections are those that go from via Argine Destro to the Torre Civica — this too dating back to the 13th century — and from there to the corner tower of piazza Ossicella, then continuing only beyond S. Martino, where it starts to climb, passing behind villa Duodo, until it reaches the area of the Rocca.
In the 14th century, the Carraresi, lords of Padua, took possession of Monselice and rebuilt the fortifying apparatus according to current defensive criteria, incorporating the older walls and the Federician mastio; indeed, much of the structures still existing today date back to that time.
In the early 1500s, the walls of Monselice experienced their final, unfortunate military episode. After the hasty retreat of the Venetians, defeated at Agnadello by the troops of the League of Cambrai (May 1509), the garrison of Monselice was attacked by the allies.
The new weapons of war, artillery, easily breached the outer circle, and those who tried to resist in the mastio were flushed out with gunfire. It was the end of the military fortress, which was no longer able to withstand the new firearms.
Once the defensive purpose was lost, the walls declined in importance. Especially in the 19th century, they were seen as an obstacle to urban expansion and were partially demolished.
However, even today we can admire large sections of the medieval city walls, the Torre Civica, the Torre di Piazza Ossicella, and above all, the imposing complex of the Mastio.
Stay in Touch With Us!
Would you like to keep in touch with us and be the first to find out about news from the Euganean Hills and Spas?
Sign up for our newsletter and start taking care of yourself: click the button below and complete the form.
We will be in touch soon with news, updates, revitalising offers and much more besides!
