For the final excursion of my study abroad trip, I chose to visit Cittadella, Italy. This small town is located in the Veneto region and is surrounded by a large medieval wall that dates back to the 13th century. I wasn’t expecting much from this visit but was pleasantly surprised! The town is quite beautiful and nearly free of tourists, making it a great place to spend a relaxing day.

View of Cittadella with the mountains in the distance

We arrived in the town during the early afternoon and therefore had only a few hours to explore. Our first visit was the wall itself – we purchased tickets that gave us access to the wall and the Captain’s House, which is a sort of museum that re-enacts aspects of medieval life in the city. It was amazing to walk the walls that defended the city centuries ago, and they were very well-preserved. We only walked half of the wall since it was so hot outside, but it is possible to walk the wall in its entirety. We then visited the Captain’s House and enjoyed the exhibits of various armor, weapons, and clothing.

Walking the walls above the city

Before long it was nearly time for us to head back to the school. We stopped for a quick bite of gelato and explored a few streets in the city. Then we were on our way “home.” I really loved exploring Cittadella; it was incredible to think that the walls were built so long ago and to actually be able to walk along them. The visit encouraged me to learn more about the history of the wall and the area in general. If you ever have a free afternoon in this area of Italy, I would recommend checking it out!

The wall completely surrounds the city