The fortified appearance of medieval Ortezzano was shaped by its city walls, which were expanded in several phases between the 12th and 14th centuries to protect the growing village.
The walls, built primarily of brick and rounded river stones and featuring a battered base for added stability, followed the natural contours of the hill.
Along their perimeter stood at least two defensive towers, equipped with corbels and battlements, ready to withstand assaults. Although much of this impressive fortification has been incorporated into dwellings or lost over the centuries, some features remain visible in today’s urban layout – such as the sturdy bases of houses that lean against the walls or the traces of the ancient swallow-tail battlements incorporated into the walls of these buildings.
A particularly significant site related to the ancient fortifications is the Belvedere area, located in today’s Piazza Marcello Savini. Here, seamlessly integrated into the panoramic setting, stands a medieval tower, now truncated. Originally, this tower was an integral part of the city walls, placed in a crucial area for strategic sighting and defense of the castle.
In fact, a commanding view of the entire middle Aso Valley can still be enjoyed from this area. Therefore, the Belvedere is not only a panoramic overlook but a place that preserves the memory of the strategic and defensive role of the ancient castle of Ortezzano, offering a view that combines scenic beauty with historical depth.
