Mestre developed as a cluster of small settlements between the two branches of the Marzenego river, later expanding around the fortress of Castelvecchio, documented from at least the early Middle Ages. The town’s origins remain uncertain due to the scarcity of sources: the name Mestre (Mester) appears for the first time on 13 November 994, in a manuscript in which Otto III, later Holy Roman Emperor, grants the Lombard commander Rambaldo II of Collalto a fief in the “Mestrina” (the area around Mestre). An authentic copy of this document is displayed inside the Torre Civica.

With the exception of the Torre Moza in Via Spalti, the Torre Civica is the only one to have survived almost intact of the at least eleven towers and turrets that once formed Castelnuovo. The “Castles of Mestre” were two: the older Castelvecchio and Castelnuovo, also known as the Città Murata, the nucleus of today’s town centre, once surrounded by walls and linked to the main land routes towards Padua, Treviso, Trento and Tyrol.

Castelnuovo had three toll gates: Torre Belfredo, Porta Altinate or dei Molini, and the Civic Tower, also known as Porta di Borgo or della Loza.

The Civic Tower served a defensive role until the early 17th century and underwent several alterations. It has two clocks - one with Roman numerals facing Via Palazzo, and one with Arabic numerals facing present-day Piazza Ferretto. Once incorporated into surrounding buildings, the tower now fully reveals its north side, where the arched entrance is visible. Inside, on the north and south sides, the Gothic arched gateways that once held the defensive grilles can still be seen. An external staircase, inspired by medieval drawbridges, leads to the first floor.

A symbol of Mestre, the tower is open to the public and hosts cultural activities and tourist information. Following major restoration work, the Civic Tower reopened in 2007 as a cultural venue and information point. Visitors can now explore all floors, accessed via an external staircase modelled on medieval siege ladders. Inside, an exhibition of 11 bilingual panels outlines the evolution of Mestre, supported by 3D models and archaeological finds. The top floor offers a satellite view of the city and a projection of archival images, offering a compelling glimpse into Mestre’s urban and social history.

Photographs of the Civic Tower by Giorgio Bombieri – City of Venice.

Chiesa di San Lorenzo

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Piazza Erminio Ferretto

Teatro Toniolo

Chiesa di San Girolamo

Torre Civica di Mestre