ROVIGO, A TOWN TO DISCOVER
Rovigo is certainly not a town which puts its cards on the table immediately. It is a town which shows itself little by little and offers all the advantages and opportunities of towns on a human scale, the ones where quality of life and the pleasure of being together are predominant.
Living in Rovigo means living in a “human” environment, a lively and yet peaceful one, characterised by the pleasant atmosphere of small historical towns, the ones which are easiest and most pleasant to enjoy and live in on a daily basis. Its history dates back to a distant past: the area was certainly settled by the ancient Venetians, Etruscans and, later on, by the Romans, although its foundation is generally traced back to the tenth century. The Estensi family were present in Rovigo as early as in 1117 and, except for a few short parentheses, Rovigo was under their domination for almost three centuries. Remains which bear witness to this important period are not hard to find: the castle keep, nowadays known as Donà tower, one of the highest Italian Medieval towers standing at a height of 66 metres, almost certainly the highest brick tower of its age.
For three more centuries, starting from 1482, Rovigo was governed by the Republic of Venice, which in order to leave its sign on it ordered Piazza Maggiore (currently known as Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II), the civic tower and the column with Saint Mark’s lion (dated 1519) to be built. At the beginning of the 19th century, after the fall of the Republic of Venice and the beginning of the French domination, Rovigo gained new momentum in the social and cultural fields. This was followed by the Austrian domination and then by annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. In other words, it boasts a rich history, which you can see in its alleys, palaces, as you walk under its porticoes and in its squares.
Rovigo fascinates its visitors thanks to the refined Renaissance and Neoclassic elegance of its main square, palaces and churches. But those who come to Rovigo are certainly spellbound by its squares and the hidden corners which characterise it. The main square, named after king Vittorio Emanuele II, is surrounded by buildings which, due to a certain lack of architectural harmony, bear witness to the various influences the town has been affected by. Among the various palaces around it, the following certainly deserve mentioning: Loggia dei Nodari, which hosts the municipal administration, palazzo Roverella and palazzo Roncale. Next to the municipal palace stands the Concordi Academy, established in 1580, which boasts one of the richest picture galleries in the region Veneto, recently moved to palazzo Roverella. It contains works by Nicolò di Pietro, Bellini, Palma il Vecchio, Luca Giordano, Piazzetta and Tiepolo. Next to piazza Vittorio Emanuele II there lies piazza Garibaldi, where there is a bronze monument dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi, a work by Ettore Ferrari dated 1896. On the same square there is the Social Theatre, inaugurated on the first day of March 1819 by Austrian emperor Francis I, which hosts traditional opera concerts. The oldest structure is the Medieval Castle, whose building was ordered by bishop Paolo di Adria in 954 and around which the town of Rovigo developed. What was initially a rudimentary fortress became, by means of subsequent reconstructions, a powerful castle endowed with walls, towers and gates. Of the six original gates, only two are still standing. The Temple of the Blessed Virgin of Relief, also known as La Rotonda, with an octagonal plan, should also be mentioned.
Culture
This town has many faces, which can provide visitors with many an opportunity: theatre shows, museums, prestigious exhibitions. We will mention some for those who love art, in all its manifestations.
The theatre
The shows of the Social Theatres should not go unnoticed. In addition to opera concerts, they organise a very famous and popular series of plays and an extraordinary section dedicated to dance, with some of the best-known ballets, but also some contemporary ones, and other shows for young people.
For information: 0425.25614
The great rivers museums
It is located in the recently restored Monastery of the Olivetan friars, next to Saint Bartholomew’s church. Items exhibited include reconstructions of excavations and houses (lake dwellings, huts with daily tools, archaeological findings and videos). The museum can be entered through Biagio Rossetti’s cloister. This is the project of a new and modern museum connected with the great European rivers, aiming to promote the land touched by the two largest Italian rivers and characterised by the Park of the Delta of the River Po.
For information: Tel. 0425.25077 -28665
Palazzo Roverella and its exhibitions
Commissioned in 1474, it is one of the main buildings in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele I, the most important square of the town. The palace, by now restored, is the new seat of the Concordi Academy Picture Gallery, which hosts masterpieces by Nicolò di Pietro, Giovanni Bellini, Palma il Vecchio, Sebastiano Mazzoni, as well as important works by Battista Dossi, Pietro Vecchia, Luca Giordano, Luca Carlevarijs, Rosalba Carriera. But Palazzo Roverella is also the seat of prestigious exhibitions. We would like to mention “Marvels of painting between Venice and Ferrara from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth century”, the one about the Belle Epoque, la exhibition about Mario Cavaglieri, organised by Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi. The latest exhibition: “Déco. Art in Italy 1919-1939” attracted thousands of visitors to Rovigo, from every part of Italy.
Entertainment and leisure time
In a town on a human scale, entertainment and leisure time are also viewed from the perspective of quality of life and well-being. There are plenty sports facilities, for those who like swimming, skating, tennis, target shooting, jogging and driving: large green areas with recreational facilities and bicycle paths in the green are available for those who love to combine physical training and nature.
The cinema (with multiple rooms), museums, exhibitions, theatre, sports, bars, libraries, the little restaurants which serve specialties of the local cuisine: all this, along with the meeting areas and cultural events, make Rovigo a town where you can live happily.
A useful service: Rovigo joins the “C’entro in bici” programme
By taking part in the “C’entro in bici” programme, present in many other Italian towns, the Municipality of Rovigo makes some municipal bicycles available to citizens, students and tourists, free of charge, in order to conveniently and freely move in the town centre. The service, active every day from 7:30 a.m. till 8:00 p.m., can be very useful, in particular for students, who in this way can move within the town centre and get to know the town in the best, most pleasant and most environmentally friendly way possible.
For information URP – Public Relations Office – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays also from 3:30 p.m. till 5:30 p.m.
Tel. 0425.206202 – 0425.206222 – 0425.206232
E-mail: urp@comune.rovigo.it
Keys can be collected at:
Bicycle office (Ufficio Biciclette) at the Traffic Sector (Settore Mobilità) of the Municipality of Rovigo
Via Badaloni, 31
Opening times:
from Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m.; on Tuesdays and Thursdays also from 3:30 p.m. till 5:30 p.m.
Tel. 0425.206449
E-mail: trasporti@comune.rovigo.it