ヴィッラヴェルラの洞窟・トップ5

Beautiful gate of the city walls of Vicenza, with tower

A fine and renowned restaurant has been created there, but the original structure suggests that here stood, as also attested by the toponym handed down by the population, the ever-mentioned Castello di Montemezzo, a refuge against repeated incursions of armies in search of territories and raids in the medieval period, even before 1000, property of the Bishop of Vicenza, in a period in which the care of the souls of the faithful was subordinated to the management of real estate assets. The complex, enclosed by walls, is located in the highest part of the hill so that in the past it also served as a lookout and guard. It presents modifications that have taken place over time, with architectural details worthy of note, such as the fine fireplaces dating back to the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Some dates carved on the façade and on the entrance portal to the courtyard, near the family coat of arms, document the Cavajon ownership in the mid-1600s. Interesting is the engraving, unfortunately incomplete but eloquent, on the jamb of a secondary entrance, referring to the passage of Charles V, fresh from his coronation as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, in transit in Montemezzo on 3 November 1532. On the same day he arrived in nearby Montecchio Maggiore, where he was hosted in the welcoming villa of the Gualdo family, as shown in the house diary, which shows in particular the assortment of gifts and provisions generously given to the sovereign and his hungry caravanserai. There is no evidence of his brief stay at the Castle but, considering how the sovereign was notoriously an unrepentant gourmet, it is easy to imagine that the stop was dedicated to a skewer of seasonal game, evidently prophetic and auspicious, given that the site is now a place of refreshment for gourmets. Source: https://subvicum.it/tappe/villa-cavajon-il-castello-di-montemezzo/

Colle di San Vittore is a silent, secluded and suggestive place that dominates a strategic passage between the Alta Pianura Vicentina and the Valle dell'Agno, with a view of the piedmont: precisely because of its position, it hosted the castle of Pietramala (ancient name of Priabona), built in the 8th-9th century and destroyed in 1250. For many centuries the hill was the center of the village, in a protected position, with the construction of the first parish church and the cemetery. Until quieter times pushed the inhabitants to go down to a more comfortable position, along the pass and the current road: the new church and the new cemetery were built. Today the hill hosts an unusual gathering of eras and styles: the church (with an appearance distorted over the centuries), the characteristic and squat bell tower, the ancient oratory (what remains of the castle), the deconsecrated cemetery and the 'recent' abandoned convent. https://padovasorprendi.it/loratorio-di-san-vittore-di-priabona-e-il-colle-ponimo/

Old fortress dates from 1510. The keep is hidden in a small park directly opposite Porta Santa Croce, on the left bank of the Bacchiglione River. In the Middle Ages, this fortress was part of the defense of the city between the gates; Porta San Bortolo and the Porta Sancta Croce. It is quiet here in this park.

Vicenza's medieval western city gate is quite impressive. The foundations date from the 12th century. The name of the nearby square tells us that this location was the site of the great Ezzelini fortress in the 14th century. It was a square area with a castle and a wet vest. In the 17th century the fortress lost its defensive role and the site changed shape and purpose. The north wing was converted into a palace overlooking the old garden. Dr fortress was almost completely dismantled by the 17th and 18th centuries. The only silent witnesses from these early Middle Ages are the Torrione and the parade ground.

The tower was built in the 12th century at the western entrance to the historic center of the city of Vicenza. In 1343 it was heavily rebuilt during the Scaliger occupation and became part of the medieval city walls. In modern times, for traffic reasons, the actual entrance arch was doubled and extended by two pedestrian walkways.

This is the old town and it's worth seeing

A gateway to the truly beautiful old town of Vicenza. Next to it is the Giardini Salvi, which is well worth seeing.