Skip menu

Carrarese Castle in Este

Overview

The Carrarese Castle in Este, built to watch over the ancient walled city, is an imposing fortification, adorned with large towers and a long city wall, that testifies to the fundamentally important role played by the territory of Este during the Middle Ages.

On the raised side of the building stands the oldest heart of the castle, in a strategic position overlooking the entire settlement and, to the north-east, what was once the entrance to the fortress, a small castle known as Rocca del Soccorso. The keep, consisting of a circle of walls, houses the remains of a small church and the foundations of a square turret, most likely dating back to the period of the great invasions in the 6th century AD.
This structure was incorporated into a series of residences and defensive walls up until the mid-13th century, when the Marquis d'Este restored the castle to its former use as a defensive fortification.

The castle we see today was built in the 1340s by Ubertino da Carrara, Lord of Padua, on the remains of an earlier fortification destroyed by Ezzelino da Romano's troops in 1249. The first traces of a castrum, dating back to 1115, are connected to the jurisdictional and territorial defence power vested in the d'Este family. Between the 12th and 13th centuries, the d’Este family marquises extended the structure, building several curtain walls and residences.

The castle reached its heyday thanks to Azzo VI, who turned it into a centre of troubadour culture. Artists, poets and jesters were hosted at the court to sing the praises of the marquis and his beautiful daughter Beatrice. The fortunes of the castle changed abruptly due to the violent wars between the Guelphs, headed by the d’Este family, and the Ghibellines, who besieged and damaged the fortification several times. 

In 1249, the castle was destroyed by Ezzelino III da Romano, who then proceeded to restore it. However, in 1294, the Paduans, by then the undisputed rulers of the territory, demolished it again. From 1339, when Ubertino da Carrara decided to rebuild it, the castle remained the property of the Carraresi until the early 15th century. 

After the city surrendered to the Venetian Republic, an additional city wall was built to encompass the new urban centre of Este, which was already bordered by the Bisatto Canal. Having lost its military value, around 1570 the castle was purchased by the rich and powerful Venetian Mocenigo family, who built their palace on its southern side. Originally, the grandiose palace consisted of two identical buildings, which required some of the medieval towers to be demolished. However, the eastern wing was destroyed by fire in the 18th century. 

In 1887, the Municipality of Este took ownership of the castle, opening the green spaces within the city walls and the surviving wing of Palazzo Mocenigo to the public. Today, the Carrarese castle serves as a majestic setting for the well-kept public gardens, opened in 1915, full of trees and centuries-old plants, while the rooms of Palazzo Mocenigo house the prestigious collections of the National Atestino Museum.

Hours

Sunday - Saturday
09:00 am-05:30 pm
Reviews
Reviews
()
Ordina per
Carrarese Castle in Este

Via G. Negri, 9, 35042 Este PD, Italia

Call +390429617511 Website

Related articles

UNESCO
The Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto's masterpiece that revolutionised art

The Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto's masterpiece that revolutionised art

Spirituality
93260152

Padua and Its Patron Saint

Relax and wellness
5 ways to experience the warmth of Abano and Montegrotto Spa in winter

5 ways to experience the warmth of Abano and Montegrotto Spa in winter

Art and culture
Veneto enchants with its immense artistic and historical heritage and elegant cities

Veneto enchants with its immense artistic and historical heritage and elegant cities

Art and culture
The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua

The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua

City
933386488

Discover Venice, a romantic destination second to none

UNESCO
680115014

Vicenza, the treasure chest of Palladio

Spirituality
Labirinto di Borges - Venezia

The Borges Labyrinth in Venice, a garden inspired by literature

City
610871156

Verona, the 2000-year-old city of love

Relax and wellness
The Spring Holiday at the Baths of Abano and Montegrotto, in Veneto

The Spring Holiday at the Baths of Abano and Montegrotto, in Veneto

UNESCO
891465194

Venice and Its Lagoon

Art and culture
Venice's Historic Cafes

Venice's Historic Cafes

UNESCO
610871156

Verona: a city to fall in love with to honour Romeo and Juliet

Art and culture
A weekend of art in Venice. Discovering museums, galleries and exhibition venues

A weekend of art in Venice. Discovering museums, galleries and exhibition venues

Art and culture
Venice: an open-air museum with a thousand-year tradition

Venice: an open-air museum with a thousand-year tradition

Nature
Landscapes of Veneto

Landscapes of Veneto

UNESCO
163734126

Vicenza’s Teatro Olimpico (Olympic Theatre)

Food and wine
Veneto, a colourful planet full of flavour

Veneto, a colourful planet full of flavour

Sport
Veneto, the thrill of flying over mountains and cities of art, taking off from the Monte Grappa massif

Veneto, the thrill of flying over mountains and cities of art, taking off from the Monte Grappa massif

Food and wine
Photo by: Regione Veneto

Discover sparkling wine and beauty among the Prosecco hills

Ops! An error occurred while sharing your content. Please accept profiling cookies to share the page.