Discover things to do in Occhiobello: the Santa Maria Maddalena fair, a bike ride in Occhiobello, the Church of San Lorenzo. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Occhiobello?
The municipality of Occhiobello borders Fiesso Umbertiano to the north, Ferrara to the south, Canaro to the east, and Stienta to the west.
The Santa Maria Maddalena Fair
According to the liturgical calendar, the feast of Santa Maria Maddalena falls on July 22. The 2023 edition of the Santa Maria Maddalena fair took place from Friday, July 14 to Sunday, July 23 in Piazza Maggiore.
If you are wondering what to do in Occhiobello, this ancient celebration combines the solemnity of the holy mass in honor of Santa Maria Maddalena with the jovial and carefree atmosphere of a lively village festival, featuring amusement parks, live music, dance evenings, and food and wine specialties to be enjoyed in the setting of a historic town bordered to the south by the Po River. As per tradition, on the last evening of the festival, the waters of Italy’s longest river reflect the glow of bright lights dotting its surface, creating a particularly evocative spectacle.
Bike Ride in Occhiobello and Canaro
The starting point of the itinerary is the parking lot in Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini (44.918982811095056, 11.579660882038334). Head towards the embankment and follow the bike path on your left, which leads to Via Felice Cavallotti. Cross the pedestrian crossing, turn left, and go under the highway overpass, then continue southeast for about 4 km along the cycle-pedestrian path that runs along the Po embankment until you reach Santa Maria Maddalena.
The route winds between the fertile floodplain landscape of Italy’s longest river, punctuated by towering poplar groves surrounded by a dense mantle of riparian vegetation, and the boundless Rovigo countryside dotted with cedars, firs, mulberries, cypress poplars, elms, ashes, and many lush tall trees.
At this point (44.89084190177119, 11.606459556018823), just before the staircase leading to Via Trieste, cross the pedestrian crossing and take Via Malcantone. After crossing the Po bridge, at the stop sign (44.89022615177003, 11.609071366713232), turn left, then immediately right onto the provincial road. Proceed east for 400 meters, then keep left onto the cycle-pedestrian path that runs for almost 5 km along the Po embankment towards Vallone, a hamlet of the municipality of Canaro.
At the locality of Paviole (44.913625373447886, 11.6640662846691), descend the embankment and follow Via Cesare Battisti for 500 meters, walking along the edge of the garden of Villa Martelli Piccioli. Cross the state road and continue on Via Cesare Battisti for 700 meters, then turn right onto Via Enrico Toti. Proceed for 150 meters in the shade of majestic plane trees, then keep left and follow the cycle-pedestrian path on Via Roma for about 2 km until you reach the Parish Church of Santa Sofia, located in the urban center of Canaro.
Just before the roundabout, cross the lush tree-lined park of Piazza Dante Alighieri on your left, then follow Via Vittorio Emmanuele II and Via Poazzo Inferiore west for 5.5 km, following a winding watercourse that snakes through the fertile Rovigo plain, dotted with charming rural homes framed by well-kept gardens and long rows of cypress poplars.
At the intersection with the provincial road, cross the road and continue along Via Poazzo Inferiore for 1.6 km. At the junction, turn left and proceed south on Via Fiesso for almost 2 km through cornfields and vast rapeseed cultivations, which during spring bloom release a striking bright yellow hue.
Turn right and follow Piazza della Libertà for 1.2 km, crossing the hamlet of Gurzone. At the intersection, turn left and proceed along Via Gurzone for 950 meters. At the roundabout, take the second exit and follow Via Roma II Tronco for 800 meters until you return to Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini.
The Church of San Lorenzo
Located in Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, the Church of San Lorenzo stands out for its elegant Baroque facade divided into two orders: the lower one rhythmically marked by Tuscan pilasters, the upper one by Ionic pilasters.
Crowned by a curved dentilled pediment, the upper body of the place of worship is connected to the lower register by two sloping arched wings.
Flanked by two niches housing statues of saints (the one on the left depicts Saint George on horseback piercing the Dragon), the massive wooden portal gives access to three white naves, punctuated by wide round arches and embellished with marble altars and enchanting paintings. If you are wondering what to do in Occhiobello, the Church of San Lorenzo is one of the most fascinating spiritual, historical, and architectural landmarks in the municipality.
