Lions of Legnago

The events of Legnago's past are inextricably linked to the river that crosses it: the Adige. In fact, since the 10th century, a castle has guarded important river traffic and the only bridge that existed at the time in the Veronese plain. The conspicuous discoveries of weapons during the archaeological excavations carried out in the 1930s - and which today constitute the beautiful collections preserved in the Fioroni Foundation Museum - document the very important military role that the town has always played. After being ceded by the Veronese episcopate to the municipality of Verona in the 13th century, Legnago was constantly involved in the battles, sieges and devastations due to the swirling and sudden changes in power - first the Scaligeri, then the Visconti and Carraresi - which characterized the following centuries.

With the arrival of the Venetians (1405), Legnago became the defensive fulcrum of the southern border of the Marciano state. In the first half of the fifteenth century the town was surrounded by a wall, whose construction dates back to the end of the previous century, and by a deep moat fed by the waters of the Adige. The built-up area and the walls did not extend beyond the current via Cavour, via Roma and via Bezzecca. The entry into the village was via three entrances: Galexina gate, in the direction of San Pietro di Legnago; Porta Ferarola, towards Vangadizza; a third door instead led directly onto the wooden bridge that crossed the Adige and connected Legnago to Porto.

Inside the walls the heart of the Legnaghese fortress consisted of the fortress, rebuilt in 1475 and considered by the contemporaries practically impregnable. It too was defended by thick walls, by a pit and by four corner towers, round in shape, one of which is still standing and testifies with its size what the grandeur of these buildings must have been.

Porto also had a small fortress, however the surrounding villages were not protected by any type of curtain wall. The Legnago of the fifteenth century was not only a military center, but on the contrary it presented a significant economic and social liveliness. Manufactures and businesses were flourishing: in the square in front of the fortress (today Piazza della Libertà) a large market was held weekly and numerous shops and emporiums rose in the villages around the parish church of San Martino, in the area of ​​today's homonymous square. The residential districts born between the parish church and the fortress were considered the most prestigious: the most wealthy and most prominent families of the town lived here. Even today that maze of narrow alleys (the "villages") is the most characteristic part of ancient Legnago.

Of the best known and subsequent 'star' urban transformation of the city, which took place in the aftermath of the war fought by Venice against the League of Cambrai (1509-1516), five winged lions in white marble, symbol of the Serenissima, have been preserved the doors of the fortress and some sections of the new and wider curtain wall. One of these is walled in the middle of the ramp of the bridge, Porto side, while the other five are located in the middle of the ramp of the bridge, Legnago side, on the building used as a gymnasium of the Liceo G. Cotta and in the small gardens in via XX Settembre. finally it is exhibited in the external courtyard of the Fioroni Foundation.

To continue the journey on the places of the Fortress click here:
TOWER:
http://web4.deskline.net/pianuraveronese/it/infosystem/detail/TRN/c81ddb37-43b0-4dce-905c-6756f74c3460/torrione_di_legnago

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA OF THE PETTERNELLA WINERY:
http://web4.deskline.net/pianuraveronese/it/infosystem/detail/TRN/afd9783a-6d60-43e3-a413-e97049e9bf6a/area_archeologica_delle_ex-cantine_petternella