The City Walls of Vicenza - the original walls

In the 10th century, after the Hungarian invasions (899), work on the first town walls was begun. The ancient Roman defences, which probably existed only in the western and south-western part of the urban area, were no longer sufficient to give protection to the city. The city walls, completed only in the 13th century with Padovani domination, stretched for 2,620 metres following this route: Piazza Castello, Contrà Mure Pallamaio, Ponte Furo, Porton del Luzo, Ponte delle Barche, Ponte degli Angeli, Contrà Canove, Pedemuro Pusterla, Pedemuro San Biagio, Motton San Lorenzo, Ponte delle Bele, Porta Castello.
All around there ran a wide moat fed by the waters of the Bacchiglione to the north, and the Seriola to the west, still to be seen in the Giardini Salvi.
There were five main city gates, with drawbridges and protecting towers, which over the centuries were all demolished: Porta Feliciana (more south than the present Porta Castello), Porta Berica or Berga (built after the closure of Porton del Luzo, later re-opened), Porta San Pietro (on the present Ponte degli Angeli), Porta Pusterla and Porta Nuova. Then there were two secondary gates to the south: Porta della Racchetta, at the bottom of Contrà della Racchetta, and Porta Carpagnon, at the Barriera Eretenia.
During the period of the domination of Ezzelino III da Romano (1236-1259) and the Padovani (1263-1311), the "domus meriata" of Porta Castello, with the big tower, and the Castle of St Peter with the tower named Coxina, were built.