Torre Donà (Torre Mozza)
At 51 metres, Torre Donà leans slightly — not dramatically, just enough to notice once you're standing at its base in Piazza Matteotti, craning upward at the Ghibelline crenellations and the narrow arched windows cut into old Veneto brick. It is one of the tallest surviving medieval towers in Italy, and Rovigo's emblem, though it wears that status quietly.
The tower and its shorter companion, Torre Grimani, are what remain of a castle that once had eight towers and a perimeter moat. The surrounding ground is now a public park — grassy slope at the front, picnic tables and a playground behind — so the medieval and the everyday sit side by side without ceremony.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've been up Torre Donà tend to mention the same moment: stepping onto the upper level and realising the lean you felt in the stairs is real, not imagination. Book the guided slot in advance — walk-ins are turned away — and arrive a few minutes early to look at the prison remains at the base before your group moves up.
The story behind Torre Donà (Torre Mozza)
The story starts with a papal bull. In 920, Pope John X authorised Bishop Paolo Cattaneo to build a fortification here — an unusual document that gave the project ecclesiastical backing from the start. By 1160, under Este direction, the full castle had taken shape: walls, a mastio, eight towers, a moat.
The centuries that followed were a slow dismantling. Venice absorbed Rovigo in 1482 and took on maintenance of the fortifications. In 1598 the castle passed to nobleman Niccolò Denudo, eventually reaching the Donà family, who tried to demolish the tower in 1771 on grounds of public danger — and lost the legal case brought by citizens. Count Marco Grimani managed a partial demolition of the walls in 1836 before authorities stopped him. What you see today was restored in 2006.
Good to know
Direct trains from Venezia Mestre reach Rovigo in about 37 minutes; the tower is a short walk or bus ride from the station. Guided visits run Friday afternoons and weekends (hours shift in summer); reservation is mandatory. The Rovigocard (€12, valid 30 days) covers multiple sites and is worth it if you plan to visit the Pinacoteca dei Concordi or Museo dei Grandi Fiumi on the same trip.
Spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October) give you the most comfortable conditions: dry days and temperatures that make standing in the open park, or waiting for a guided slot, genuinely pleasant. Summers are hot and humid; winters are cold and can bring snow, though the tower visits continue year-round on their set schedule.
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What travellers say about Torre Donà (Torre Mozza)
Interested in doing some research on this building and took the time to wonder around this local landmark, which features in lots of local artwork. And surrounding area is a park which makes for a nice stop point while exploring the area.
Very nice historical monuments, both towers!!..with a small park all around.
Wow....its was not just a place to be, But a place to keep going.... what an amazing place
Nice towers. Lord of the rings? 🤔😁
This tower is so old
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