Can You Walk the Walls of Cittadella? Yes, and here’s why you should.
It was nearly 30 degrees Celsius the day we visited, and the Veneto countryside shimmered in the heat like something out of a fever dream. Endless plains stretched into the distance, punctuated by cypress trees and sleepy villages, while far below our feet, a spring-fed moat played host to families of geese and ducks making considerably more noise than their surroundings deserved.
Cittadella is, in short, exactly as idyllic as it sounds.
Cittadella’s medieval walls are one of the Veneto’s most remarkable sights, and uniquely, you can walk the entire circuit on top of them. We’re talking walls more than two metres thick and about 15 metres high, and yes, you can stride along the top of them. Though if you have small children or a shaky relationship with heights, this might be the moment to let them admire it all from ground level.
Armed with only ice-cream, sun-cream, and a camera we set off.
Cittadella’s Medieval Walls: A Walk Through History
Thanks to a restoration completed in 2013, the entire 1.5-kilometre circuit is safe, solid and mercifully free of anything crumbling underfoot. We start at the Tourist Office by Porta Bassano, where steep steps carry us up past the frescoed Captain’s House, into the Medieval and Renaissance Museum, before the walls open out into a glorious, uninterrupted walkway.
We’d strongly recommend not rushing this part. A full lap with proper stops for the views and the obligatory photographs takes well over an hour, and every minute of it earns its keep. Walk the walls clockwise in the morning for the best lighting for photography and panoramic views of the distant mountains.
What You Can See from Cittadella’s Walls
To the north, Mount Grappa dominates the skyline, with the Dolomites faintly ghosting behind it. Southwards, the Euganean Hills roll away in soft folds, while the Brenta River meanders through the western landscape as though it has absolutely nowhere to be. We find ourselves stopping far more often than planned, which is, we suspect, entirely the point.
About halfway round, we duck into the Malta Tower at Porta Padova. Inside there’s a museum covering the region’s archaeological history, and if you’re feeling energetic, the climb to the top rewards you with yet more views that will make you forget your aching legs.
Exploring Cittadella: What’s Inside the Walls
Cittadella is laid out in a tidy cross, with four gates pointing north, south, east and west. Porta Bassano in the north is where we began. Porta Padova to the south was historically the main entrance, but most visitors these days arrive through the eastern gate, Porta Treviso, where there’s generous free parking just outside the walls. The western gate, Porta Vincenzo, points towards the nearby town of the same name for those who fancy a gentle wander off the main circuit.
Inside, the streets are compact enough that getting lost isn’t really an option, making Cittadella an ideal day trip from Venice or a relaxed stop on a wider Veneto travel itinerary. Shady piazzas lure you in for gelato and people-watching, which is frankly not a bad way to spend an afternoon, and we give in without much resistance.
Feeling hungry or thirsty?
Use the Visit Cittadella website for your food and drink choices.
On Mondays and Thursdays, local markets fill the squares from around 8am with fresh produce, cheese, meat and spices, wrapping up by early afternoon before the town settles back into its quiet rhythm. We time it perfectly, almost entirely by accident.
Cittadella’s Duomo and Museums: Worth the Stop
The Duomo on the main square is still very much a working church, so we wait respectfully while a service finishes rather than barging through mid-hymn. It’s worth it for some neoclassical architecture, and hidden art treasures.
Next to it, the bell tower houses a small Museum of Religious Art, a rewarding stop for a cultural moment without committing to an entire afternoon.
More information about Cittadella
To find out more about this hidden Veneto gem check out Visitcittadella, the tourist office official website.
Or try this page for what to see.
And this page for walkway opening hours.
Getting there from the UK
By air, Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is about 40 minutes away by car, and Treviso Airport (TSF) is closer still at roughly 30 minutes. We flew into Venice, which works perfectly.
By train, take a service from Venice to Padova, then a local connection to Cittadella.
The whole journey runs to around two hours, which gives you ample time to start getting excited.
By car, head west from Venice or Treviso along the A27 and follow signs for Cittadella. Parking at Parcheggio Spalti, near Porta Trevisois easy and free, which in Italy always feels like a small victory.
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Where to next?
• Veneto, Italy – 7 things to do that don’t include Venice
• Getting by in Italy
• Walk like a Venetian