(A) THE FEUD OF THE EZZELINO DYNASTY In that part of the depraved land of Italy that lies between the Rialto and the springs of the Brenta and the Piave, rises a hill of no great height ...: this was how Cunizza da Romano, sister of Ezzelino III, lord of the Marca, described her birthplace to Dante in Paradiso. The definition of depraved given to these lands can be explained by the fact that at the time, the poet had taken refuge in Verona at the court of Cangrande della Scala, the sworn enemy of the Ezzelino family, and it is therefore evident that it is Dante who talks with these very severe tones. 8 In these terms and for a long time, Ezzelino’s tower (San Zenone degli Ezzelini) Fadalto Nove Botteon Savassa Bassa Sonego Osigo Luca Passo San Boldo Longhere Mezzavilla Serravalle Breda Pra De Radego Revine Lago Fregona Montaner Olarigo S. Maria Fratte Borgo Villa Costa Rugolo Lago Nogarolo Anzano Caiada VITTORIO VENETO Sotto Croda Colmaggiore Sarmede Tovena Ceneda Alta Palu' Soller Cappella Maggiore Tarzo Ceneda Bassa Mura Villa di Villa Valmareno Gai Cozzuolo Cison di Valmarino Arfanta San Giacomo di Veglia Silvella Intrivigne Prapian Formeniga Pinidello San Martino Pecol Pine' Follina Costa di La' Corbanese Carpesica Cordignano Ponte Maset Colle Umberto Milies Miane Farro' Scomigo Ponte della Muda Premaor Manzana Menare' Orsago Vergoman Molinetto delle Crode Godega di Stramare La Bella Sant'urbano Combai Campea Pedeguarda San Pietro di Feletto Ogliano Refrontolo San Fior Salvarotonda Pianzano Bibano Solighetto Rua Bagnolo Bibano di Sotto Soligo Baver Francenigo Segusino Guizza Guia Farra di Soligo Pieve di Soligo BarbozzaSAN ZENONES. Stefano DEGLI EZZELINI Posmon Boschet 1 Castellano hill Castello Capo di Sotto PROVINCE OF Castelletto S.Maria San Vendemiano Levada S. Vito VALDOBBIADENEFONTE Rocchetta 2 Col San Martino Cosniga Gaiarine BELLUNO Castle Collalbrigo Borghetto Funer SaccolMASER Piazza Rovere Roverbasso 3 Former site of the Castle Giussin Barbisano S. Michele CONEGLIANO CORNUDA Crevada Codogne' 4 Fortress Colbertaldo Collalto Cimavilla Borgo Chiesa Portobuffole' Pederobba Sernaglia della Battaglia SanPEDEROBBA Giovanni Pare' Campomolino Granigo Mosnigo PROVINCE OF 5 Mura della Bastia (Onigo) Ramera Cima Grappa Virago Bigolino Moriago della Battaglia Falze' di Piave Cavaso del Tomba Vitipan CAVASOVidor DEL TOMBA Bocca di Strada Vallonto Fae' 6 Castelcies Curogna Rive Carlot Bosco Monticano PORDENONE Vettorazzi 7 Church of St. Martin Susegana Campagnola Cornare Rigole Onigo Covolo POSSAGNO Santa Croce Santa Lucia Mareno di Piave Soffratta Possagno Caniezza Castelli Levada8 Castelar Rover Castelcies 5 Parrocchia Colfosco di Piave Visna' Basalghelle Guizzetta Piave Vazzola Fontanelle Fietta 6 Santa Mama Mercatelli Livenza 8 7 S. Vettore S. Urbano Crespano Santi Angeli Borgo Bellussi Mansue' Monfumo Cornuda Ponte della Priula Lutrano Brische del Grappa Tezze Cassanego Castelcucco 4 Crocetta Ciano Nervesa della Battaglia Navole' Mure La Valle del Montello S. Maria di Piave Paderno Sovilla Bidasio Rai Meduna 3 di Livenza Borso del del Grappa Pra de Roda Grappa S. Eulalia Casonetto MONTELLOSanta Maria Bavaria Gorgo della Chiesa Maser San Michele di Piave Tempio San Giovanni di Motta Fonte Alto Pagnano ASOLO Colfrancui Fratta Gorgo Dei Molini Coste Cimadolmo Semonzo 1 Crespignaga Pederiva Giavera del Montello San Polo di Piave Borgo Marconi 2 Cusignana ODERZO Motta di Livenza Biadene Selva del Montello Arcade Ormelle Liedolo Caerano di San Marco Caonada Spresiano Lorenzaga Sopracastello One' Casella d'Asolo Volpago del Montello San Giorgio Madonna della Salute Fonte Sant'Apollinare Guarda Bassa Venegazzu' Piavon Stabiuzzo Guizza Malintrada Bassano Lovadina Villanova San Zenone degli Ezzelini MONTEBELLUNA Cavalier del Grappa Villa d'Asolo Visnadello Roncadelle Villaraspa Povegliano PROVINCE OF Lauro San Gaetano Bel Giardino Maserada VICENZA San Vito Camalo' Sul Piave Levada Busco Marostica Ca' Rainati di Altivole Altivole 9Signoressa Santandra' Fossalta Maggiore Spineda Busta Villorba Negrisia Falze' Barrucchella Candelù Candelu' Negrisia Chiarano Caselle Varago Trevignano Catena Saletto San Nicolo Velapiccola Edifizio Ponte di Piave Candole Vascon Breda di Piave Cessalto S. Anastasio Bessica Musone Riese Pio X Vigonovo Musano Paderno San Bartolomeo Loria Barcon Santa Maria di Campagna Postioma Carita' Lancenigo Fagare' Salgareda Merlengo Le Marche Ponzano Vacil Pero Borgo Campagnola Poggiana Bocca Callalta Campo Pietra Veneto Borgo di Fontane Pezzan San Giacomo Cavrie' Porcellengo Piave Ramon Fanzolo Sala Campobernardo Valla' Fontane Mignagola Biban Zenson Castello Fossalunga San Martino San Biagio di Callalta di Piave di Godego Pezzan Castagnole Santa Bona Carbonera Borgo Verde Rovare' Castione Bella Venezia San Floriano Vedelago Padernello Castello Villarazzo Salvarosa Istrana Paese San Floriano-olmi CASTELFRANCO VENETO Carpenedo Olmi Spercenigo TREVISO San Pietro Novello Salvatronda Albaredo Cavasagra Villanova Lanzago Ospedaletto Silea Monastier Nerbon Pralongo Vedelago Casacorba Treville Campigo Villanova Biancade Morgano Sile Casier Vallio San Marco Quinto di Treviso Dosson Sant'andrea Oltre Muson Cendon Castelminio Santa Cristina Frescada Roncade Badoere Resana San Trovaso Lughignano S. Elena S. Cipriano Franceniga PROVINCE OF Le Grazie Conscio San Cipriano Scandolara Sile PROVINCE OF PADUA Sant'alberto Canton Preganziol Borgo Verde Ca' Tron VENICE Zero Branco Casale Sul Sile Sambughe' Zero Villaggio I.A.C.P. Campocroce Musestre Bonisiolo Boschetta Zerman Bagaggiolo Mogliano Veneto Ghetto Mazzocco Marocco historians painted a negative picture of the da Romano family, and above all of Ezzelino III. The latter, however, has recently been seen under a more favourable light on account of his political outlook, which was pioneering for the time, as it was connected to a vision of power that far from being introverted, was open to the European scenario. It is nevertheless true that between the 12th and 13th centuries, the Marca Trevigiana was the scene of many bloody battles, some of which between View from the tower (San Zenone degli Ezzelini) members of the same family. It therefore Castelcucco and Castelciés. The site enjoys a marvellous natural setting comes as no surprise that the memory There are therefore countless places of that is, as yet, unspoilt by invasive modern of such difficult times lives on in the interest in this area, where breathtaking human activity. The castle that was erected castles, including those in the Vicenza area, for example at Bassano del Grappa landscapes have provided a backdrop to on the hill in the mid-12th century was and Marostica, in the fortified castles millennia of history, for example by setting extended by Ezzelino III in the second and towers that characterise the hillside out from the modern town of S. Zenone half of the 13th, with the construction landscapes and in local place names, degli Ezzelini home to Castellaro hill 1 , of a quodammodo Babilonis tower and 10 such as Castelli, Castellaro, Castelàr, characterised by man-made steep slopes. the transfer of the surrounding hamlet Landscape (San Zenone degli Ezzelini) to the lowlands to make space for the historians to suggest that the planning the destruction of the castle and even fortifications. work may have been done by the southern made it illegal to live in S. Zenone. The size, unusual building technique and Italian engineers of Emperor Frederick II. On leaving Castellaro hill, we recommend buildings erected downhill suggest a truly Unfortunately, Ezzelino’s plans failed and visiting the nearby interesting examples extraordinary construction for its time, in 1260-61 the Pope’s crusade against the of traditional rural architecture and the one of very few similar buildings from the da Romano family, involving the Venetians Patriciate villas such as villa Rovèro and same era in Veneto, including the lookout and Paduans, marked the demise of the villa Rubelli. tower of Monselice castle, urging some dynasty and Treviso’s authorities ordered However, the da Romano saga also 11 involves a countless series of castles that On arriving in Maser, at the foot of the are reported to have been conquered by hill, one comes to the splendid villa, one Ezzelino III propter metum et per forciam, of Andrea Palladio’s many masterpieces, by fear and by force, and which constitute built as the archetype of an ideal villa with an ideal connecting theme for subsequent the forward set central body, colonnade visits. The first, little more than a short and two porticoed side wings. Behind walk away, is Fonte Castle 2 , which is the building, on what was once the site reputed, like Pagnano Castle, to have been of a thirteenth century castle 3 , stands donated to Gerardo Maltraverso by the the last remaining evidence of the former Emperor Henry IV in 1024. It subsequently construction, a well, a characteristic and became the property of the da Camino essential element of all fortresses. and the Camposampiero families, and was By following the gentle profiles of the hills later occupied by Ezzelino, who made it, to the east, one comes to Cornuda, which together with the castle of S. Zenone, one stands not far from the River Piave, where of his strongholds, and suffered a similar the site of the fortress 4 is devoid of Mura della Bastia (Onigo) fate when it was destroyed by Treviso’s all traces of the ancient fortification: the River Brenta to Quartier del Piave. Tracing municipal authorities. On the site, which only surviving suggestion of