Este (Italian:[ˈɛste]) is a town andcomune of theProvince of Padua, in theVeneto region of northernItaly. It is situated at the foot of theEuganean Hills. The town is a centre for farming, crafts and industry worthy of note.
Este had given its name to theEste culture, a proto-historic culture existing from the late ItalianBronze Age (10th/9th century BC, proto-venetic phase) to theRoman period (1st century BC) and which was located in the present territory ofVeneto.
During theIron Age Este was a major center of theVeneti who left a number of inscriptions on funerary and votive objects.
During the late 3rd century BC, Este peacefully fell under the sway of Rome and became aRoman colony under the name ofAteste. When much ofNorthern Italy was grantedRoman citizenship in 49 BC, the citizens of Este were inscribed into the Roman tribe ofRomilia. Following theBattle of Actium, EmperorAugustus settled soldiers of theLegio V Alaudae andLegio XI Claudia in the territory of Este comprisingGalzignano Terme, Teolo, Lonigo, Noventa Vicentina, Trecenta, Pernumia, Monselice, and Cinto Euganeo.
InLate Antiquity, Este was devastated and reduced to a rural village because ofbarbarian invasions, especially that ofAttila. It arose again only after the 10th century, after theObertenghi family started ruling on a vast area,[3] including Este, and starting to name themselves House of Este, and whenAzzo II d'Este built a castle there and named himself and his family after it, establishing theHouse of Este. The House of Este would hold the city until 1240, when it moved its capital toFerrara. Este, meanwhile, was conquered twice byEzzelino da Romano III, in 1238 and 1249. It was disputed during the 14th century by theScaligeri, theCarraresi and theVisconti, until it surrendered spontaneously toVenice in 1405.
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