Discover what to do in Thiene: the feast of San Gaetano, the Coffee and Chocolate festival, the castle of Thiene, the church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Thiene?
The municipality of Thiene borders to the northeast with Zugliano, to the northwest with Zanè, to the southeast with Villaverla, to the southwest with Malo, to the east with Sarcedo, to the west with Marano Vicentino, Malo and Villaverla.
The castle of Thiene
Located at Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 2, the castle of Thiene is one of the most representative and fascinating buildings in the municipality. Enclosed by a crenellated wall, the 15th-century noble residence is harmoniously set in an elegant garden dotted with centuries-old trees.
The facade of the ancient palace is marked on the ground floor by five wide arches that define the airy spaces of a sumptuous loggia.
Flanked by two mullioned windows interspersed with quadrangular openings, in the center of the front stands a five-light polyphora with trilobed arches adorned with balustrades.
Originally finished with swallowtail merlons, now incorporated into the front wall, the noble dwelling is crowned by a double-pitched roof. On the sides of the centuries-old villa rise two towers, also crenellated, from which soar tall Venetian-style chimneys.
The interiors of the house are embellished with historical and legendary depictions set in the enchanting atmosphere of pleasant natural landscapes and within urban scenes that reproduce evocative perspective illusions.
The formidable architectural complex stands a few steps from the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Located in Piazza Artuto Ferrari, the place of worship has a Gothic facade in red brick vertically tripartite by pilasters connected by hanging arches, culminating with an ogee arch externally decorated with a vegetal motif in stone and bearing three circular openings in which there are as many statues.
The church houses precious marble altars, as well as fine sculptural and pictorial works, including a portrait of the patron saint of Thiene executed about four hundred years ago.
The feast of San Gaetano
The celebration of the patron saint begins each year between the end of July and ends on August 7. In addition to the solemn liturgical functions in honor of the saint who lived between the 15th and 16th centuries, the festival includes dining areas from which the inviting aromas of sizzling grilled meat, gnocchi and bigoli with ragù, as well as tasty baccalà with polenta, one of the most beloved recipes of Veneto cuisine, emanate.
The event takes place in a cheerful and lively atmosphere with live music, sports activities, from football matches to outdoor walks, and includes the inevitable charity stall.
Coffee and Chocolate festival
One of the most anticipated events in Thiene, the coffee and chocolate festival takes place in the first half of February.
The squares and streets of the historic heart of Thiene, bordered on one side by the high walls of the 15th-century castle and on the other by well-kept urban green spaces from which majestic poplars, lindens, and cedars rise, are pervaded on cold winter Sundays by the intense and enveloping aroma of sweets and drinks whose roots lie in the ancient pre-Columbian civilizations of South America and the vast fertile forests of Ethiopia.
Mixed, tempered, garnished, the raw materials go through an elaborate processing that reconciles the precision and technique that make pastry a science with the talent and creative flair that characterize Italian art and cuisine. The result are exquisite artisanal products that will satisfy your guilty pleasures: pastries, creams, mousses, drinks, and ice creams naturally based on coffee and cocoa.
If you are wondering what to do in Thiene and wish to immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of this splendid town in the Vicenza area dotted with stalls and tasting points where you can warm up and satisfy your sweet tooth, attending this event will surely be right up your alley!
