Discover what to do in Arzignano: The Castle of Arzignano, the Fair of the Saints, the Feast of Saint Agatha. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Arzignano?
The municipality of Arzignano borders to the north with Trissino, to the northwest with Nogarole Vicentino, to the southeast with Montorso Vicentino, to the southwest with Roncà, to the east with Montecchio Maggiore, and to the west with Chiampo.
The Castle of Arzignano
Situated in Piazzale della Vittoria, the grandiose fortress towers over the top of a green hill dotted with pale olive trees and covered with thick woodland vegetation, among which the flourishing crowns of acacias and poplars stand out.
After conquering the manor of the counts of Arzignano in the first half of the 14th century, the Scaliger family decided to surround the structure with tall and mighty walls, from whose dark and imposing mass of lava stone thirteen towers originally rose.
Having defeated the noble Veronese lineage by the Visconti family in 1377, the castle first came into possession of the Milanese dynasty and then, in the early 15th century, passed under the control of the Republic of Venice.
Having entered into war against the king of Hungary after denying him permission to cross its territories, the Republic of Venice was invaded by the Magyar army. Led by Pippo Spano, the Hungarian troops attacked the Castle of Arzignano in 1413.
On February 5 of that year, however, the siege proved unsuccessful and the Hungarian troops were forced to retreat.
During the 16th century, as the defensive function of the military architectural complex ceased, the Republic of Venice decided to refine and lighten its forms.
If you are wondering what to do in Arzignano and wish to take a dip into the Middle Ages, the colossal fortress represents one of the most significant historical and cultural landmarks of the municipality as well as a spectacular observation point from which you can embrace with your gaze the splendid valley dotted with distant tiny houses and the sunny wooded slopes that stand out on the horizon.
The Fair of the Saints
The traditional celebration is held every year in November. The 2022 edition of the festival was held from 25 to 8 November.
On the occasion of the popular festival, the streets and squares of the center fill with rides bright with colored electric lights, among which we must mention the giant Ferris wheel placed in front of the town hall, from which you can admire exclusive and exciting perspectives of the urban heart of the town. For those hunting for adrenaline experiences, it will be possible to defy gravity aboard the Star Fighter and experience the centrifugal force of the pirate ship.
For the little ones, there will be the apple caterpillar, bumper cars, and flying chairs. These are just some of the dozens of fun attractions that will light up Piazza Guglielmo Marconi.
If you are wondering what to do in Arzignano and are looking for cheerful and engaging activities to spend the autumn season in the name of mouth-watering gastronomic specialties, a vast and exciting amusement park, and hundreds of stalls of clothing and objects of all kinds, the Fair of the Saints is an unmissable event!
The Feast of Saint Agatha
The feast of Saint Agatha occurs every year on February 5 in the hamlet of Tezze.
The liturgical calendar date corresponding to the death of the Saint, which occurred in 251 in the prison where she was locked up for refusing to renounce the Christian faith, coincides with the day on which, in 1413, the Hungarian soldiers led by Filippo Buondelmonti degli Scolari (Pippo Spano) had to declare themselves defeated and withdraw after the exhausting siege of the Castle of Arzignano.
The ceremony includes a solemn procession with faithful reproductions of period costumes from that time, made with passion and impeccable skill, exciting choral songs, breathtaking acrobatic performances, craft workshops, and medieval market areas, as well as sumptuous banquets where you can taste dishes worthy of a king.
If you are intrigued by the idea of taking a trip back in time and taking part in a 15th-century celebration pervaded by the charm of a majestic castle that has withstood the shock of centuries of wars and still stands atop a green wooded hill, attending the Feast of Saint Agatha might be just for you!
