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Monselice gets his name from the
flint-stone mines that, for ages, have been its
fortune. Laying at the foot of a calcareous hill,
the Colle della Rocca (stronghold hill),
Monselice holds a lot of treasures from the
Middle Age and the Renaissance.
First of all, the Mastio (rampant) built
by Federico II Emperor of Svevia: protected by a
series of fortification, which are still visible,
it was an impregnable castle. Nowadays it hosts
a permanent exhibition of late medieval finds
discovered during the restructuring works.
Furthermore, thanks to its panoramic terrace,
the Mastio offers the visitors a view that
sweeps from the Hills to the plain and, if the
weather is good, even to Venice.
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At the foot of the Colle
della Rocca, there is the Cini’s Castle (or Ca’
Marcello), a compound of buildings erected in different
ages to respond to different needs. You can visit the
inside where a collection of Renaissance weapons and
furniture is on show.
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From the southern
side of the Colle della Rocca starts a
charming path named Sentiero Giubilare delle
Sette Chiese that skirts six chapels and a
little octagonal church shaded by cypresses. The
path leads to the XVII century Villa Duodo:
constructed by the Duodo Venetian family, it is
flanked by the Exedra, a monumental
staircase dedicated to S. Francesco Saverio.
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Villa
Nani-Mocenigo is an example of late
renaissance villa. Built by another Venetian
family, is characterised by a scenographic
staircase and enclosed by a peculiar fencing
decorated by statues of dwarfs: allusion to the
name of the family who constructed the villa,
the Nani-Mocenigo.
Further on you can admire the Duomo Vecchio, a
beautiful XIII century Romanic-Gothic church
built in honour of Santa Giustina.
At last, leaving Monselice and going to Padova,
near Rivella you can notice Villa Emo
Capodilista built in the late XVI century in
Palladian style with a wide Italian garden.
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