PALMANOVA private tour: the fortress in the shape of a nine-pointed star (Unesco)

The guided tour of Palmanova will make you discover one of the most beautiful villages in Italy with its typical nine-pointed star shape, a fortress town built by the Venetian Republic to protect itself from possible enemy attacks. It starts from the most important of the three monumental access gates to the town, Porta Udine gate, which takes its name from the town of Udine, built in the 1600s. The facade with columns and towers contains the wheels that were used to move the drawbridge that connected Palmanova to the outside and the soldiers’ rooms.

Near this beautiful gate you can admire the remains of the Venetian Aqueduct, in white Istrian stone, an 18th century construction that brought water to the town and extended as far as the city of Venice. The guided tour continues in the town with all the streets in a radial pattern towards the main square in the center of Palmanova which we will visit later. We walk through the historic park of the Bastions with the various paths where you can admire the historic walls and the water channel that surrounds the whole village, and above all you can explore the fully illuminated and open 2R Gallery.

These tunnels were used in the event of an attack to bring soldiers under the enemy siege positions to excavate a chamber, fill it with gunpowder and blow it up. We continue our tour by heading towards the main square, a hexagonal square located in the center of Palmanova, Piazza Grande square which was once called Piazza d ‘Armi because it was used to train soldiers during military exercises, which contains the most important buildings of the small town. We visit the Cathedral or Church of the Santissimo Redentore, in white stone and an example of Venetian architecture with the Lion of San Marco and inside precious works and paintings.

We end the guided tour by visiting the other important buildings on the square, such as the Loggia della Gran Guardia connected to the Palazzo del Provveditore, now the Town Hall, where in the past it housed the soldiers who were in charge of guarding the square.

Included:

• Walking tour with licensed tour guide

Not included:

• Food and drinks
• Museum tickets (optional)
• Transfer service

What to bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Water
• Sun hat on hot days

Meeting point:

• Porta Udine gate (under the arch)