Rovigo and Polesine

<< Veneto

Polesine is the region between the lower courses of the rivers Adige and Po, almost entirely located in the Province of Rovigo. Its location between the larger cities of Veneto such as Padua and Venice to the north, and the Emilian towns of Ferrara and Bologna to the south, made this a historically contested and strategic area. After centuries of being mostly under the rule of Ferrara and then Venice, Polesine, like the rest of Veneto, was under Austrian occupation before joining Italy in 1866. Polesine was severely hit by a flood in 1951, after which many people left the area. The attractions of Polesine are mostly located in the two main cities, Rovigo and Adria, while the Po Delta offers some natural beauties.

Rovigo

Rovigo is a quiet town located at the center of Polesine. It has its origins in the Early Middle Ages and developed as an agricultural center, but its growth was slowed down when the entire province was hit by a devastating flood in 1951. Despite being still to this day mostly devoted to agriculture, Rovigo features various cultural attractions and historic buildings with clear influences from both Venetian and Emilian culture.

✪ La Rotonda

Also known as: Church of Beata Vergine del Soccorso (Tempio della Beata Vergine del Soccorso)

The Church of Beata Vergine del Soccorso, more commonly known as La Rotonda, stands out for its peculiar octagonal shape, which is rare among Catholic sites. It was built between 1594 and 1606 to house a miraculous image of the Madonna. The interior of the church is richly adorned with baroque paintings, frescoes, statues, and carvings that cover all the walls and the ceiling. The main building is surrounded by a portico and flanked by a fine bell tower.

Palazzo Roverella

Palazzo Roverella is the main center of culture in Rovigo. It is the finest example of Renaissance architecture in the city, and now hosts an an archaeological collection and the art gallery originally housed in the Accademia dei Concordi, featuring numerous artworks by painters from Veneto. Various interesting temporary exhibitions are also periodically hosted here.

Two Towers of Rovigo

The medieval castle of Rovigo was originally built along the Adigetto river that flowed through the city and was later diverted. After losing its strategic importance, most of castle was demolished, along with the fortifications of the city. What remains today is the two leaning towers (Due Torri) and some sections of the ancient walls. Torre Donà is the tallest of the two towers, while Torre Grimani lost its top half. The area of the former castle has now been turned into a park and a square, which also hosts the Monument to Giacomo Matteotti, a local politician that was killed in 1924 for opposing fascism.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

The main square in Rovigo, it is surrounded by porticoes and historic buildings such as Palazzo Roverella, Palazzo Roncale, and the library of Accademia dei Concordi. On one side of the square, the Civic Tower stands out next to Loggia dei Nodari, a 13th-century palace now hosting the seat of the local municipality. The opposite side of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is occupied by the Palazzo del Corpo di Guardia, which was built in the 19th century to host a garrison of the Austrian army and it is now used for exhibitions. A monument dedicated to King of Italy Victor Emmanuel II and a column topped with a Venetian Lion of Saint Mark decorate the central area of the square.

Accademia dei Concordi

A cultural institute founded in 1580 as an academy of science, arts, literature, and music. Today its library, located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, hosts over 250,000 books. Among the many historic volumes is part of the Bibbia Istoriata Padovana, a medieval illuminated manuscript from the 14th century and one of the best examples of such works that survived to this day.

Museo dei Grandi Fiumi

Museum of local history with a focus on the peculiar local environment of Polesine, located between the rivers Po and Adige (the two Grandi Fiumi, or great rivers) that shaped the development of this area since ancient times. It houses an archaeological and art collection with findings and artifacts from a period that spans from the Bronze Age to the Renaissance. The museum is hosted in the former Monastery of the Olivetans, adjacent to the Church of San Bartolomeo.

Rovigo Cathedral

The Cathedral (Duomo) is the main religious site in Rovigo. It was built starting in the 17th century to replace a previous church, and it was completed over the course of the following decades. However, the facade is still unfinished, as an agreement on its appearance was never reached. Some interesting artworks are hosted inside the church, such as a painting by Palma il Giovane.

Adria

Now a small city between the Adige and Po rivers, Adria has a long history that dates back to a Venetic settlement founded around the 10th century BCE. At that time, this area was close to the sea, before the formation of the Po Delta. For centuries it was one of the main centers on the northern Adriatic coast, so much so that the name of the Adriatic Sea came from this town. Adria flourished under the Etruscans and the Greeks, later becoming a Roman city, but the changes in local hydrography made it further from the sea, and so it lost its importance. Adria was later part of the domains of Venice and was heavily influenced by its culture.

✪ National Archaeological Museum of Adria

The National Archaeological Museum of Adria (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Adria) is dedicated to the long history of the town. It includes a collection of prehistoric and ancient artifacts mostly from the Etruscan and Roman periods found in and around the city. The most remarkable piece of the collection is a large tomb of a warrior, known as Tomba della Biga, featuring a chariot and horses, and dating from around the 3rd century BCE.

Adria Cathedral

Also known as: New Cathedral, Cathedral of Santi Pietro e Paolo (Cattedrale Nuova, Cattedrale dei Santi Pietro e Paolo)

The New Cathedral (or Duomo) was built in the 19th century to replace a previous medieval church, the historic seat of the Diocese of Adria. An ancient crypt with Carolingian frescoes is now located underneath the current building, that also features a small museum.

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

Also known as: Basilica of the Tomb (Basilica della Tomba)

This church can trace its origins to the age of Early Christianity, but the building was demolished and rebuilt several times. The current church was built in 1718 and now features various artworks and a baptismal font from the 7th or 8th century. Its name comes from a Roman tomb that used to be near the church in ancient times.

Po Delta

Po is the longest river in Italy, and it ends in a wide delta (Delta del Po) that spans an area between Chioggia and Comacchio. After changing its course numerous times over the centuries, now almost the entirety of the current active delta is located in the Province of Rovigo. Here, it forms the Regional Park of the Po Delta, a natural reserve with a rich flora and fauna, and the largest wet area in Italy.

Coastal Botanical Garden of Porto Caleri

Also known as: Coastal Botanical Garden of Veneto (Giardino Botanico Litoraneo del Veneto)

Located at the northern end of the Po Delta, between the small resort town of Rosolina Mare and the private vacation island of Albarella, the Coastal Botanical Garden of Porto Caleri (Giardino Botanico Litoraneo di Porto Caleri) contains a wide selection of trees and plants that showcase the local biodiversity. A narrow strip of sand dunes separates the garden from the lagoon that surround it and the sea.

Museo Regionale Veneto della Bonifica

A former industrial complex and water pump dating from the early 20th century, now it is one of the entry points of the Regional Park of the Po Delta, located almost at its southern end, near the town of Ca’ Tiepolo. It hosts a museum and information center dedicated to the local environment and the reclamation of land in the delta.

Sacca di Scardovari

One of the most iconic areas of the Po Delta, this coastal lagoon is located on the southeastern side of this region, emptying into the Adriatic Sea. It is famous for the production of mussels and clams, among a fascinating environment and it is also a hub for birdwatching. The beach of Barricata, one of the most visited in the Po Delta, is located on the seaside area that closes the Sacca di Scardovari.

Fratta Polesine

Fratta Polesine is a small town in the countryside near Rovigo, and it is known for various different reasons. During the Bronze Age, it was the site of an important settlement known as Frattesina, while in more recent times, it was known for its Palladian villa. In the early 19th century it was the seat of a secret revolutionary society linked with the Carbonari, that seeked to unite Italy, while later it became famous for being the birthplace of politician Giacomo Matteotti, an early opponent of fascism.

Villa Badoer

A typical Venetian villa designed by architect Andrea Palladio and built between 1557 and 1563. The only work by Palladio in Polesine, it was also his first villa to feature a temple-like facade with a pediment. The internal halls are finely decorated and the building is surrounded by small gardens. The local archaeological museum is hosted in one of the halls of the villa. Now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the other Palladian Villas of Veneto.

Casa-Museo Giacomo Matteotti

House of socialist politician Giacomo Matteotti, member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament between 1919 and 1924. He denounced the fraud and violence that led to the victory of the Fascist Party in the 1924 elections, and was killed by a fascist militia a few days later. The museum housed here hosts an exhibit on the life and battles of Matteotti.

Lendinara

Lendinara is a small town in upper Polesine that was a relevant regional center during the Late Middle Ages and now hosts a few historic buildings, a nice central square, and two important religious sites.

Sanctuary of the Madonna del Pilastrello

Also known as: Sanctuary of Beata Vergine del Pilastrello

This church was built in the 16th century after a series of events that involved a statue of the Madonna to which the locals were devoted. The interior is decorated with various artworks that highlight the history of the statue and all its miracles, including a painting by Tintoretto.

Church of Santa Sofia

Also known as: Duomo of Lendinara

Built in the late 18th century to replace a previous older building, this church features some interesting artworks, but it is mainly known for its bell tower. Standing at a height of 92.5 meters, the bell tower of the Church of Santa Sofia is among the tallest ones in Italy.

Piazza Risorgimento

The main square of Lendinara is the center of local life and it is surrounded by porticoed buildings and located near the Adigetto river that crosses the town. Facing the square is the historic Palazzo Pretorio, a fortified medieval palace with a tower that was later used as a prison. The eastern side of the square is closed by the Clock Tower, once the gate of a former castle.

Badia Polesine

Badia Polesine is a small town in Alto Polesine, the western part of the Province of Rovigo. Located near the Adige river, it takes its name from an abbey (badia) that was built here during the Middle Ages and was briefly an important and independent religious center, before its decline.

Abbey of Vangadizza

The Benedectine Abbey of Vangadizza (Abbazia della Vangadizza) was founded during the 10th century and was recognized as an independent fief in 996, a status later confirmed by both the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. During the 12th and 13th century, it became an important cultural center with a large library and a school, especially after adhering to the Camaldolese order in 1213. The abbey lost its temporal rights in the 15th century and entered a period of slow decline before its suppression in 1789. After its closure, it suffered a partial demolition, and now only some parts of the original church, the bell tower, and the cloister survive.

Bergantino

Bergantino is a tiny rural town situated on a bend of the river Po at the western edge of the Province of Rovigo, along the border with Lombardy. It is noted for the production of funfair attractions.

Museo della Giostra e dello Spettacolo Popolare

A unique museum focused on the culture and history of touring funfairs and their attractions. It includes various historic pieces such as carousels and musical instruments that showcase the peculiar world of amusement parks.