There is a medieval tower rising amid lush, flowering gardens, but step inside and you are confronted with airplanes, balloons, aeronautical memorabilia, and even a history that reaches into space. It is the Castello di San Pelagio, in the Padua countryside, a place unlike many others where architecture, nature, and the history of flight coexist within the ancient rooms of a noble residence.
On August 9, 1918, Gabriele D’Annunzio departed from here for the famous flight to Vienna together with the aviators of the 87th Squadron, “Serenissima.” Today those rooms still recount the poet’s presence, while the park preserves labyrinths, rose beds, and installations that transform a visit into a suggestive journey through history.
The History of the Castello di San Pelagio (and trivia)
The origins of the Castello di San Pelagio go back to the 14th century. The oldest part of the complex is the crenellated tower built around 1340 by the Da Carrara, lords of Padua, integrated into the territory’s defensive system against the Scaligeri of Verona.
Over the centuries the military function of the complex gradually yielded to a residential one, and in 1544 San Pelagio passed to the Sant’Uliana family, while from the Seicento the ancient fortified structure was transformed into a true villa.
A turning point came in 1752, when the property passed to the Counts Zaborra, who expanded and renewed the complex, transforming it into the noble residence that can still be partly admired today. The same family also carried out important interventions on the agricultural complex and on the outbuildings, including the one dating from 1795.
But it is in the twentieth century that San Pelagio entered the history of aviation. During World War I, in the summer of 1917, part of the villa was placed at the disposal of the Italian army, and an airfield was laid out on the surrounding grounds. A year later, the castle became the starting point for one of the most famous feats in Italian aviation history: Gabriele D’Annunzio’s flight to Vienna, on August 9, 1918. No fewer than seven aircraft reached the Austrian capital, where they dropped hundreds of thousands of leaflets over the city, instead of bombs.
What to See During the Visit
The bond between D’Annunzio and San Pelagio is still visible inside the castle, especially in the Dannunzian Rooms, reconstructed on the basis of documents and testimonies from the era. These are precisely the spaces where the poet known as the Vate stayed before departure, and visiting the castle (in about 45 minutes) allows one to discover details about the preparation of this famous aerial undertaking.
From this, it becomes clear that exploring the Castello di San Pelagio is far more than a simple tour of a historic house. The complex actually gathers three different experiences: in addition to the Dannunzian Rooms, there is also the Flight Museum, which tells the history of aviation from Leonardo da Vinci’s earliest ideas to the Wright brothers and the space conquests (with several aircraft and period devices on display in the garden) and the historic park where green spaces, rose gardens, and trees predominate, and where other historic elements such as the ice house and the fish pond can be found. The real highlight, finally, is its mazes, including the one dedicated to D’Annunzio, with a mirror game at the center that echoes the theme of the “double.”
Visiting Information and Events
For visitors to the castle in 2026, the regular season lasts until November 30. The opening hours vary by day, and on some dates there are partial openings: it is therefore advisable to check the calendar on the castle’s official site before departing.
Not to be missed, Sunday, September 20, 2026, the event “Flying with Science,” which returns with a special day dedicated to both adults and children: scientific activities, workshops, interactive routes, a treasure hunt, rocket launches, and an original Science Show enliven the castle.
Location and How to Reach It
The Castello di San Pelagio is located at Via San Pelagio 50, in Due Carrare, in the province of Padua, in the heart of the Veneto countryside and about 13 km from the city. By car, it takes about 20 minutes, while from Venice it is roughly 52 kilometers. It is also accessible by regional buses bound for Mezzavia.
