Discover what to do in Sorgà: the Devil’s Palace, the risotto col pessin festival, the Church of the Nativity of Mary. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Sorgà?
The municipality of Sorgà borders to the north with Erbè, to the south with Villimpenta, to the east with Nogara and Gazzo Veronese, and to the west with Castelbelforte, San Giorgio Bigarello and Castel d’Ario.
The Devil’s Palace
Located at Via Roma, 7, the Devil’s Palace stands in the placid countryside of the Bassa Veronese on the border with the province of Mantua. Characterized by a majestic and compact structure, the Renaissance building develops over four levels: basement, first and second floors, and attic. The southern facade is marked at the center by two pairs of Ionic pilasters, above which stand the architrave and triangular pediment, flanked by two chimneys.
Accessible via a double-ramp staircase, the arched entrance portal is surmounted on the piano nobile by a window, also arched, adorned with a parapet. The two windows at the ends of the piano nobile open onto a balustraded balcony.
The risotto col pessin festival
The 2023 edition of the risotto col pessin festival took place from Friday 8 to Sunday 17 September in Piazza Generale Murari Brà.
Fed by abundant spring waters, the fertile plain of the Bassa Veronese is the ideal environment for rice cultivation, a practice that spread in the area from the 17th century.
In addition to shaping the enchanting rural landscape that can be admired today, crossed by long canals and dotted with rustic farmhouses framed by lush hedges, this ancient agricultural tradition has given rise to tasty dishes that combine the high-quality rice varieties grown locally with exquisite freshwater fish, known by the dialect term pessin, which find their ideal habitat in this environment.
A recommended appointment for food lovers, the festival features spacious and comfortable tent structures where you can choose from delicious indulgent dishes, from risotto to tastasal, succulent mixed grills and baked lasagna to the exquisite risotto col pessin, the undisputed star of the event.
The festival program includes dance evenings with orchestras and disco music, singing competitions and five-a-side football tournaments.
If you are wondering what to do in Sorgà, the risotto col pessin festival is an opportunity to discover and appreciate the authentic flavors of the gastronomy of the Bassa Veronese, as well as spend time in good company in the serene setting of a welcoming rural town crossed by the winding course of the Tione.
For more information about this lively event, we recommend visiting the Facebook page PRO LOCO Sorga’.
Recipe for risotto col pessin for four people
Clean the pessin (as desired), bread it with flour and breadcrumbs and fry it in olive oil (you can also fry it in seed oil). Boil water with salt. Add 400 g of Riso Nano Vialone Veronese IGP and cook for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to minimum and cover the pot with a cloth and the lid. After about 10/12 minutes the rice will be cooked. Stir the risotto with butter and cheese, add the fried pessin and a drizzle of olive oil.
The Church of the Nativity of Mary
Located at Via C. Battisti, 14, the thousand-year-old Church of the Nativity of Mary is distinguished by a pretty double-pitched facade, vertically tripartite by four pilasters. Preceded by two flourishing olive trees, an elegant staircase leads to the wooden portal crowned by a triangular tympanum, above which a circular opening stands out. On the sides of the entrance open two arched rectangular windows.
Adjacent to the north wall of the place of worship, the oratory features a Baroque-style facade, also rhythmically marked by pilasters, ending with a mixtilinear pediment.
When you enter the single nave of the church, you are fascinated by the wooden truss ceiling and splendid Renaissance paintings.
