Castle Prison Tower

The earliest sources date back to 976, but it appears that the walls of Lonigo Castle were already erected by the Romans (150-100 BC), who founded several colonies in the Vicenza area to guard the mountains and defend against Alemannic invasions.
The castle, under the Counts of Vicenza, was located on a hill along the Novo River. Under Scaliger and Venetian rule, sieges and destruction ceased, but by the 16th century Lonigo Castle was nearly in ruins as the City of Vicenza had suspended its maintenance. Today only the Keep, approximately 33 meters high, and the Scaliger Tower, which became a prison, remain.

The restoration project for the “former Prison” building aims to restore the functionality and integrity of a historic building in Lonigo, with a view to future use by the community. The intervention on the external wall surfaces and roof of the former prison continues the recent restoration of the Scaliger tower, recovering the portion of fortified curtain wall that, to the north, closed the boundary of the ancient castle. The building, damaged by time, weather, and infested by a large colony of pigeons, required restoration of the facades, recovery of the roofing system, and redevelopment of the space in front of the buildings in close contact with vehicular traffic. The small square in front of the tower and former prison is for pedestrian use only as an area pertaining to the historic buildings.