Torre di Malta (Tower of Malta)

Strada del Cristo (can also be visited along the walkway)

The imposing construction built inside the Padua gate (Porta Padova) is the so called Tower of Malta (Torre di Malta), built in 1251 by Ezzelino III da Romano, despotic ruler of the area, as a prison for his enemies. The fortress became sadly notorious among its contemporaries because of the atrocities committed there: Dante mentions it in the Divine Comedy. Currently, the large rooms of the tower house the collections of the Museo Civico Archeologico (Civic Archaeological Museum), as well as meetings and conferences. The museum has a fine collection of archaeological finds, ranging from the Bronze Age to the Renaissance, discovered in the territory of Cittadella. The Museum of the Siege (Museo dell'Assedio), on the third floor, tells the story of the siege of Cittadella in 1318 by Cangrande della Scala, through reproductions of armours, weapons and items of common use at the time. Opening hours: the same as the Captain's House and the walkway (see Casa del Capitano).