Discover what to do in Montegalda: the San Marco Fair, the Baccalà Festival, Castello Grimani-Sorlini. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Montegalda?
The municipality of Montegalda borders to the north with Grumolo delle Abbadesse, to the northeast with Grisignano di Zocco, to the northwest with Longare, to the southeast with Veggiano, to the southwest with Montegaldella, to the east with Veggiano, to the west with Longare and Montegaldella.
The San Marco Fair
The San Marco Fair occurs every year to commemorate the martyrdom of the patron saint of Venice. The 2022 edition took place from April 22 to 25.
On the occasion of this heartfelt celebration, the vast area of Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, bordered to the southwest by a row of majestic linden trees, the sumptuous rooms of Villa Gualdo, a 17th-century noble residence and now the town hall, and the pleasant river park of Colzè, bordered by the winding bends of the Bacchiglione, will host aperitifs, photographic exhibitions, art shows, and large dining areas where you can taste mouth-watering dishes, from grilled meats such as ribs, sausages, and grilled beef slices to enjoy with slices of steaming yellow polenta and crispy fried potatoes, to tagliatelle with asparagus, followed by delicious homemade cakes and tarts.
If you are wondering what to do in Montegalda and want to experience quiet spring days with indulgent cuisine that attests to the quality of local products, native wine excellences, exciting rides, dance performances, and artistic and cultural initiatives set in the fabulous natural and architectural backdrop of enchanting parks and sumptuous noble residences, the San Marco Fair is an opportunity not to be missed!
The Baccalà Festival
The festival takes place every year in October in Piazza Marconi. The 2022 edition was held from October 7 to 9.
A recommended event for food lovers, the festival promotes the protagonists of Vicenza’s gastronomic tradition, whose ancient roots, linked to the spectacular Norwegian archipelago of Lofoten, date back to when a Venetian merchant, shipwrecked on the island of Røst in the first half of the 15th century, learned from local fishermen the processing and preservation methods of cod for the preparation of so-called Stockfish.
Imported into the Peninsula, the Venetians were able to enhance the ‘stick fish’, so called for its shape and hardness, creating the exquisite Baccalà alla Vicentina, whose recipe, codified and handed down over centuries, is now preserved and protected by the Confraternity of Bacalà. However, the name of this specialty is misleading, since the main ingredient is not baccalà, which is salted and aged cod, but stockfish, that is, cod left to dry in the open air.
In addition to baccalà alla vicentina, the rich menu includes gnocchi, pasticcio, spaghetti alla chitarra, creamed baccalà, platters of cold cuts and cheeses, and much more!
If you are wondering what to do in Montegalda and cannot resist the aroma of top-quality fish specialties, attending the Baccalà Festival might be just right for you!
Castello Grimani-Sorlini
Located at Via Castello, 19, the thousand-year-old fortress stands on the top of a sunny hill dotted with pale olive trees with knotted trunks and silvery canopies.
In the 13th century, the fortress was conquered by the condottiero Ezzelino III da Romano, then came under Paduan rule, later under the Scaligeri and subsequently the Milanese. In the 15th century, during the domination of the Republic of Venice, the formidable architectural complex lost its defensive function and underwent a series of interventions aimed at refining its structure and making it more comfortable.
The mighty walls crowned with Ghibelline battlements surround the charming inner courtyard punctuated by a portico adorned with precious statues. Outside, the splendid Italian garden stands out for the precise geometric designs, based on a strict criterion of symmetry, of the white paths arranged around sculptures and stone fountains enclosed by well-kept flowerbeds.
