Set against a sweeping background of historical villas, the Brenta Riviera is stage for a strikingly high number of events, exhibitions and performances.
THE HISTORICAL REGATTA OF THE RIVIERA DEL BRENTA
As a vacation destination for Venetian aristocrats of the past, the Brenta Riviera still encourages the local population to cultivate their wish to occasionally travel back in time and experience that florid period, when nobles from across the globe would sail along the Naviglio River to reach their summer holiday homes, the gorgeous villas. In celebration of that glorious past, every year on the second Sunday of September, tourists and locals alike can watch Henry III, King of France, cruise down the extension of the river Canal Grande all the way to Villa Malcontenta, followed by boats of the Venetian nobility and by the Doge.
PALIO OF NOALE
Not only through luxurious fabrics, beautiful dresses and swirling laces show off all the splendeuer of the Venetian Republic, but archers, fire-eaters and flag wavers also convey you straight back in time, to the Middle Ages. The ‘Palio’, which takes place in Noale and was first organised by the aristocratic Tempesta family in the 1339 and then in 1347, is brought to life every June with traditional games and ceremonies. Highlights include the foot race between the ‘contrade’, the extraction of the ‘bale d’oro’ and the firework display, which reenacts the burning of the town Fortress, La Rocca , just to name a few. Together, these elements make the ‘Palio’ a true Medieval experience.
PALIO DEL RUZANTE
Every year at the end of September, the “Palio del Ruzante” commemorates the centuries-old traditions of people of the Brenta Riviera who used to transport merchandise and food supplies from Padua to Venice on boats pulled by men and horses. The guest of honor is in fact the “Burcio” – the traditional cargo boat that used to be loaded with supplies and which was pulled by hand by different groups from different towns along the Riviera. What was once a hard and essential profession has now become a fun and exciting timed competition, featured alongside a rich program of activities, celebrations and commemorations such as the costume parade, theatrical performances, traditional dishes and craftworks of the Palio. The Palio del Ruzante brings together sport competitions and history as it celebrates with creativity a traditional profession that played a key economic and cultural role in the area. It also highlights the strong bond with water, a connection profoundly shared by every towns overlooking the Brenta River.
THE GAME OF THE GOOSE
Every year at the beginning of November, the Goose Fair livens up the town of Mirano. “During St. Martin’s weekend, the city for two days take a step back in time to the early-20th century and sees the old-town centre transformed into a square of the Belle Époque period,” says Roberto Gallorini, CEO of the organisation that plans the event. “Everything contemporary disappears in order to make room for old-times characters such as the paperboy and his newspapers, street vendors with unique brews, the craftsman making straw chairs and games of the past and costumed individuals selling everything from food to objects depicting a goose. Actors and extras bring the streets of the city centre back to life, while the square is transformed into a mansize board game, with 63 smaller squares and giant dice and pawns thanks to which participants can prove their astuteness and abilities. An important role is played by local cuisine as the town’s best restaurants engage in a friendly unofficial contest to present traditional goose dishes.
JAZZ & MUSIC
Not only events that celebrate past traditions, but also plenty of music and live performances that liven up the warm summer evenings of the Riviera. Such a cultural and vibrant scene might not seem everybody’s cup of tea. Worry not – expert musicologists will take you on an unforgettable step-by step journey into a world of spontaneous compositions and emotions that only jazz music is able to offer. In springtime Jazznonstop, a festival set against the backdrop of Fiesso D’Artico, is sure to live up to your expectations. Different city squares of the Riviera will also play host to jazz music, which will amaze the audience with its gentle and soothing sounds from across the globe. Pop and rock music lovers will not want to miss the Mirano Summer Festival, held every year in July.
Since the 18th century, Noventa Padovana plays host to the traditional October fair that used to be called ‘Autumn Fair’. Through the years, however, thanks to the centuries-old ties with Venice, the main focus has been around seafood and specifically around octopus, which later gave the name to the event. Boiled octopus is served with garlic, oil and parsley and can be found in food stalls and kiosks of octopus vendors, which in Venetian dialect are called folpàri (from folpo, octopus). As well as the traditional folpo, a wide assortment of local seafood specialties is also available, such as the “masenette” or “bovoletti”, that are often served with plenty of wine or beer. The event is much more than a foodies-must as it offers a wide range of activities, music and dances that cater for all tastes and ages and draws to its close with a spectacular firework display.
THE REDEEMER FIREWORKS IN NOVENTA PADOVANA
Every year on the third Sunday of July, Venice celebrates the Feast of the Redeemer – Festa del Redentore – an event that commemorates the 1577 plague. The most significant night is Saturday, when an exceptional firework display lights up the sky above St. Mark’s Square and entertains tourists and locals lined up by the seashore and crammed on hundreds of boats. In between the two World Wars, Noventa Padovana began celebrating the Redeemer on its own account. The celebrations were characterised by a barge that carried an orchestra along the river, where traditional games, like the cuccagna, were played. Today, the Festa del Redentore in Noventa has become a not-to-be-missed event that features dances, good cuisine and a unique firework display. Locals gather along the banks of the river Piovengo at the Noventa Padovana lock while tourists take a boat trip from Padua and stop by the river lock to witness the exceptional firework display that lights up the sky.
