Palazzo Pretorio e Giardino G. Marchiori

This is one of the oldest Este buildings in Polesine, dating back to the late fourteenth century. It was originally built as a castle, the civil and military seat of the Este authority, at first, and later of the Venetians. It consists of the Maistra tower, 25 meters high, and a lower building equipped with merlons and a large portal. It was more recently used as a prison, so much so that it was often referred to by the locals as ‘e presòn’. Today, it hosts the annual nativity scene exhibition that attracts enthusiasts from the area and beyond. There is also an internal garden in the palace, recently restored and dedicated to Giuseppe Marchiori, a famous art critic of the twentieth century.