Discover what to do in Breganze: The fish festival in Maragnole, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the hammer museum, tasting the Torcolato DOC. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Breganze?
The municipality of Breganze borders to the north with Fara Vicentino, to the south with Sandrigo, to the east with Mason Vicentino di Colceresa and Schiavon, and to the west with Sarcedo and Montecchio Precalcino.
The fish festival in Maragnole
One of the most beloved events in Breganze, the fish festival takes place every year in July in the same locality to promote top-quality fish specialties thanks to the twinning with the island of Pellestrina.
The rich menu based on typical seafood accompanies the inhabitants of the enchanting community nestled in the heart of the Vicenza area into the magical lagoon atmosphere through the flavors and aromas that distinguish the ancient identity of the splendid island.
Waiting for you in the large food stand, located near the Parish of San Francesco di Paola in Piazza Mons. Camillo Faresin, 4, 36042 Maragnole (VI), you will find exquisite scallops, breaded shrimp skewers, fried and grilled fish, very tasty sardines in saor (prepared with white onions, pine nuts, raisins, and white wine vinegar), as well as stewed cuttlefish and mussels in the pan.
However, the event does not neglect meat lovers, who will not be able to resist the sizzling call of chops, ribs, and grilled sausages.
In addition to the excellent cuisine and the wine excellence of the area, the warm summer of Maragnole will be enlivened by musical performances, dance evenings, lively stalls, and recreational activities involving the entire community.
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta is characterized by a majestic façade with projecting sections divided horizontally into three registers: the lower one features the entrance portal in the center, framed by two columns supporting the architrave, frieze, and an arched pediment.
The central part of the building, slightly advanced compared to the side ones, is rhythmically marked by pilasters between which two statues flank the entrance door, while the side aisles are accessible through two smaller doors surmounted by semicircular tympana.
Also marked by pilasters, the upper register stands out for the elegant rose window adorned with a white radial tracery flanked by mullioned windows with parapet.
The front is crowned by architrave, frieze, and a dentilled cornice on which stands the triangular pediment crowned by the sculpture of Santa Maria Assunta.
Once inside the place of worship, it is easy to be struck by the vast and almost dizzying perspective of the central hall culminating in a grand arch that introduces the apse area.
Internally illuminated by elaborate mullioned windows, the imposing mass of the parish church is embellished by valuable paintings and marble altars.
Another element of architectural value is the soaring bell tower with a square base vertically marked by narrow single-lancet windows and bearing four mullioned windows in the bell chamber. Completing the vertical development of the structure is the metal spire resting on an octagonal drum.
Site of the market and focal point of the social life of Breganze, Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini is bordered to the east by the façade of the parish church, to the west by the arches of a long portico.
The municipal wine cellar, restaurants, and taverns that dot the town are the ideal places to savor the most representative wine of the area, Torcolato DOC, a passito wine born from the vineyards of the sunny Vicenza hills, distinguished by an amber color and a smooth taste ideal to accompany desserts, one more reason to visit one of the many pastry shops in the charming historic center.
The hammer museum
A significant example of industrial archaeology, the ancient hammer has kept its soul unchanged for about five hundred years thanks to the passion, zeal, and respect for tradition of Bruno Tamiello, owner of the building where the forging process of tools used by our ancestors in agriculture and craftsmanship is illustrated.
The complex system of gears, belts, and pulleys is driven by the centuries-old stone mill race that channels the waters of the nearby watercourse.
Located at S.da del Molino, 10, 36042 Breganze (VI), the mill is one of the most evocative cultural landmarks of the charming town in the Vicenza area.
