Discover what to do in Gazzo in the province of Padova: the frog festival, the ancient free fair, a bike ride in Gazzo, the church of Madonna delle Grazie. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Gazzo located?
The municipality of Gazzo borders to the northeast with Grantorto, to the northwest with San Pietro in Gu, to the south with Camisano Vicentino, to the southwest with Grumolo delle Abbadesse, to the east with Grantorto and Piazzola sul Brenta, to the west with Quinto Vicentino and Torri di Quartesolo.
The frog festival
The traditional celebration takes place every year in June. The 2023 edition is scheduled from Friday 23 to Tuesday 27 June in the hamlet of Grossa.
The main ingredient of a poor recipe of peasant origin, frogs were hunted at night, in the ditches, with the first warmth of spring, immobilized by the dazzling lights of carbide lamps and then captured.
Protagonists of gourmet specialties worthy of a starred restaurant, the frogs are skinned, then the thighs are removed and the ends of the legs are removed. Once floured, the meat is cooked in boiling oil.
The rich menu also includes frog-based risottos, bigoli and gnocchi with tomato and duck ragù. For red meat lovers, there will be succulent chops, ribs and sausages grilled, delicious scottona steaks as well as boards of cheeses and cold cuts to enjoy with slices of grilled polenta, just to mention some of the exquisite dishes that you can pair with top-quality wines and cold mugs of beer, ideal for relieving the summer heat.
If you are wondering what to do in Gazzo, the frog festival is one of the most representative and engaging events of the charming village immersed in the plain of the upper Padovano.
For more information about the popular event, we recommend visiting the Facebook page Festa delle Rane “Grossa di Gazzo PD” or visiting sagradellerane.com.
On the website comune.gazzo.pd.it you will find the programs of many other village festivals such as the festival of Carmine, the festival of Baccalà and the ancient free fair, a centuries-old event during which, every year in October, the historic center of the town welcomes livestock returning from mountain grazing.
On the occasion of the event, the heart of Gazzo comes alive with artisan workshops, exhibitions of local products, circus performances with acrobats and jugglers, livestock shows and vintage agricultural machinery, as well as refreshment points where you can taste local dishes that make your mouth water.
Bike ride in Gazzo
The starting point of the short itinerary is the pro loco parking lot in Piazza IV Novembre. Head south along Via Vittorio Emanuele, Via Indipendenza and Via Bassanese, entering the serene rural landscape marked by cultivated fields and vast grassy areas dotted with rustic farmhouses and framed by majestic cypress poplars, willows and silver cedars, acacias, elms, ashes, maples and plane trees.
After 2.4 km turn left (elbow curve) into Via Cincinnato. After 180 meters keep right into Via Chiesa Vecchia. Continue for about 300 meters and turn left to reach the Chiesetta Madonna delle Grazie, a charming 13th-century place of worship enveloped by the peaceful and silent rural landscape of Gazzo.
Once the visit is over, return to Via Bassanese. Turn left, then immediately right into Via Pastoreria. After 1.2 km turn right into Via Francesco Baracca. Proceed for 2.2 km along the road that cuts through golden cornfields crossed by ditches shaded by dense countryside vegetation. On clear sunny days, the faint profile of the Prealps can be glimpsed on the horizon.
At the intersection with Via G. Mazzini turn right. After about 200 meters you will find Piazza IV Novembre on your left.
The church of Madonna delle Grazie
Located in Via Chiesa Vecchia, the white medieval place of worship stands in a well-tended lawn adorned with fir trees and cypresses. A dark yew hedge separates the garden from the endless cornfields bordered by lush hedges of willows, robinias and maples.
Dating back to the 13th century, the church is distinguished by a double-pitched facade and is accessible through a wooden arched portal. Internally illuminated by four side lunettes, the nave has a wooden truss roof and is embellished by an elaborate marble altar adorned with cherubs in high relief and a splendid pictorial work depicting the Madonna and Child, above which stands a precious golden crown.
Worth noting is certainly the bell tower, incorporated into the structure and decorated with mirrored panels along the shaft. Above the belfry, in which four round-headed single-lancet windows open, rises an elegant spire resting on an octagonal drum.
If you are wondering what to do in Gazzo, the church of Madonna delle Grazie is one of the most significant spiritual, artistic and cultural landmarks of the municipality.
