Surroundings

The Ezzelini castle or upper castle, a medieval defensive fortification, built around the Church of Santa Maria in Colle dates back to 998. Positioned on the highest hill as a defense and refuge for the people, in the second half of the 12th century the bishop of Vicenza, owner of the castle, he donated it to Ecelo I, progenitor of the Ezzelini family who passed it into the hands of the Visconti, the Scaligeri and finally the Serenissima. In the 13th century a new boundary wall was built up to the north pentagonal tower. The Ortazzo tower was built and the tower of Ser Ivano (southwest corner) and the church bell tower were restored. In the thirteenth century a new wall was built to protect the villages that grew externally and at the end of the fourteenth century the last expansion dates back to, partly still visible in Viale delle Fosse. In the 15th century, before passing to the Venetian dominion, the fortification was still active, only to be abandoned and transformed. The quadrilateral-shaped fortification has walls from 7.50 to 13.50 m high; the structure is built with alternating rows of bricks and pebbles from the Brenta river. The castle is currently used to host temporary exhibitions and theatrical performances of Opera Estate. The castle square, where the entrance to the Cathedral is located, is open to the public while the patrol walkway is only open on certain occasions during the Christmas and summer periods.

ADDRESS:

Castello Ezzelini 3 square