Discover what to do in Granze in the Province of Padua: Villa Ca’ Conti, the feast of Santa Cristina, the church of Santa Cristina. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Granze?
The municipality of Granze borders to the north west Sant’Elena, to the north east and east Solesino, to the south Vescovana, to the south east and east Stanghella, to the west Villa Estense and Sant’Urbano.
Villa Ca’ Conti
Located in Via Gazzolo, 1129, Villa Ca’ Conti is one of the most representative and fascinating monuments in Granze. Originally owned by the Benedictines, the Renaissance architectural complex was acquired by the noble Conti family, which turned the estate into a sumptuous summer residence used as a base for hunting activities.
Richly frescoed, the majestic manor house later passed to the Camerini family, who were responsible for the creation of the splendid winter garden.
Accessible via an elegant balustraded staircase, the manor consists of a projecting portico marked by four Ionic columns, above which rises the dentilled triangular pediment bearing a heraldic coat of arms at the center.
On either side of the residential core are connected two three-storey wings from which the barchesse extend, lower in height than the manor house.
The villa is enclosed between a vast, well-kept Italian-style garden dotted with century-old trees and a series of imposing arcaded buildings arranged in a horseshoe shape, located to the north.
The feast of Santa Cristina
The Catholic Church commemorates Santa Cristina on 24 July. The celebration in her honour, in the municipality of Granze, also takes place in the days leading up to this date.
The 2023 edition of the feast of Santa Cristina took place from Friday 14 to Sunday 16, and from Friday 21 to Monday 24 July, at the parish church in Via della Libertà.
This traditional event pays tribute to Saint Catherine both through solemn liturgical ceremonies and through colourful floral displays and picturesque floats that enliven the heart of the lovely rural town during the celebration.
The event programme includes spacious tent structures where you can enjoy tasty sandwiches packed with delicious ingredients such as porchetta, sausage, bacon, fontina, peppers, grilled vegetables and many other tempting dishes to savour with cold mugs of beer, ideal for quenching your thirst and easing the summer heat.
If you’re wondering what to do in Granze and want to immerse yourself in the lively folklore of an enchanting rural village in the Lower Padua area, the feast of Santa Cristina features dance evenings, singing contests, top-quality food and wine specialities, motorcycle rallies, five-a-side football tournaments and breathtaking fireworks displays!
To stay up to date with the event’s upcoming appointments, it is recommended to check the Facebook pages Eventi Granze and Infiorata Santa Cristina Granze.
The church of Santa Cristina
Located in Via della Libertà, 22, the church of Santa Cristina faces the town hall and the monument dedicated to Granze’s fallen from 1940 to 1945. Framed by majestic cedars, lime trees, magnolias and other luxuriant tall trees, the pristine commemorative stone is topped by the bronze statue of a soldier standing proudly, with his left arm raised, while his right hand holds the rifle at his side.
The place of worship stands out for a gabled facade vertically marked by two pairs of pilasters.
Framed by a white facing, the wooden portal is crowned by a curved pediment decorated with three cherubs, above which opens a moulded oculus. Between the portal and the pediment is the inscription MDD LXXXII (?).
Bringing the vertical development of the structure to a close is the dentilled triangular pediment softened by three pinnacles.
Inside, the vast and bright nave has a checkered floor and is enriched by precious altars in polychrome marble and refined painted decorations, among which stands out the fresco on the ceiling depicting Santa Cristina immersed in the heavenly vault and surrounded by angels.
If you’re wondering what to do in Granze, the church of Santa Cristina is a spectacular jewel of architecture and sacred art.
