Discover what to do in Castelmassa: the National Fair of San Martino in Castelmassa, a bike ride in Castelmassa, Teatro Cotogni. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Castelmassa?
The municipality of Castelmassa borders to the north and west with Castelnovo Bariano, to the south with Sermide and Felonica, and to the east with Ceneselli and Calto.
National Fair of San Martino in Castelmassa
According to the liturgical calendar, the day dedicated to Saint Martin is November 11. In the municipality of Castelmassa, the celebration in honor of the saint also takes place in the days before and after this date.
The 2023 edition of the National Fair of San Martino in Castelmassa was held from Friday 10 to Monday 13 November in the urban heart of Massa.
As every year, the fair route lights up the festive evenings dedicated to the artisan activities of the Rovigo area. On the occasion of the traditional event, the historic heart of the town comes alive with exhibitors rich in precious handicrafts, painting and ceramics workshops, photographic exhibitions, amusement parks with adrenaline-pumping rides bright with electric lights, as well as itinerant kiosks with inviting specialties that enhance the gastronomic heritage of the peninsula.
The ancient popular festival includes spacious and comfortable dining areas where you can choose from tasty specialties, such as donkey meat with polenta, cotechino with mashed potatoes, and maltagliati with beans, as well as local cured meats and cheeses, fried pumpkin, chestnut cake, polena and stracotto, cheese and sopressa, the characteristic pinzin, and a vast assortment of jams, honey, mustards, and delicious homemade sweets. In addition to the classic charity raffle, the event program includes exciting archery lessons.
If you are wondering what to do in Castelmassa, the San Martino fair is an unmissable opportunity to spend the autumn season with inviting dishes to pair with local wine excellences and cold mugs of craft beer, to be savored in the setting of a charming town lapped by the winding course of the Po River.
For more information about the ancient recurrence, you can consult the Facebook page Fiera Nazionale San Martino di Castelmassa and the website sanmartinoinfiera.eu.
Bike Ride in Castelmassa and Calto
The starting point of the itinerary is the parking area in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in front of the municipal headquarters.
Head west on Via G. Pasi for about 170 meters, then at the intersection with Via Giacomo Matteotti turn right and proceed north for 300 meters in the shade of a lush avenue of linden trees. At the intersection with Via San Martino turn left and follow Via San Martino for 400 meters until you reach Via Argine Po.
At this point keep left and proceed southeast for 7.8 km along the asphalt road that winds along the left bank of the river of the same name, partly hidden by the dense foliage of willows, cypress poplars, mulberries, hornbeams, elms, and many other lush tall trees. From the privileged position of the embankment, you can contemplate the sinuous course of the Po, a majestic silver serpent from whose cold surface emerge white river islands cloaked in wild vegetation.
To your left stretches the vast countryside panorama of the Rovigo area dotted with elegant farmhouses and centuries-old rustic buildings.
At this point (44.97812332146471, 11.380347389726301), just before the ancient sluice gate of Calto, turn left and descend the embankment, then after 220 meters turn left and proceed for 1.8 km. Once you reach the oratory of Sant’Antonio, keep left on Via Costantino Munari. After 600 meters turn left onto Via G. Garibaldi, after 100 meters turn right onto Via Giuseppe Mazzini.
Proceed west for 4 km along Via Giuseppe Mazzini, Via Bosco, and Via Galberte, then (45.01118603051921, 11.316471697083935) turn right onto Via Mercanta. After 700 meters turn left and cross the urban center of Massa along Via Leonardo da Vinci and Via Galileo Galilei.
At the intersection turn left onto Via Cesare Battisti, then immediately right and follow Via G. Pasi for about 70 meters, alongside the Teatro Cogni until you return to the starting point.
Teatro Cotogni
Located in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the architectural complex dating back to the second half of the 19th century is accessible from the east through a charming porticoed structure punctuated by wide round arches. Renovated in the 1980s, Teatro Cotogni has a capacity of 150 seats and represents one of the most fascinating cultural landmarks for those wondering what to do in Castelmassa.
