Discover what to do in Melara: the pumpkin festival, the church of San Materno Vescovo, a bike ride in Melara, Correggioli and Bergantino. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Melara?
The municipality of Melara borders to the north with Cerea, to the southeast with Borgocarbonara, to the east with Bergantino, to the west and southwest with Ostiglia.
The pumpkin festival
The 2023 edition of the pumpkin festival took place from Tuesday 8 to Sunday 20 August in Via dell’Artigianato (45.06368014645005, 11.207225828315057).
An unmissable event for food lovers, the festival features a spacious and comfortable tent structure where you can choose from inviting recipes based on the renowned fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family, which finds ideal conditions to grow lush in the fertile Melara area.
As every year, during the festival you can savor delicious dishes, both indulgent and gourmet, such as pumpkin tortelli with butter and sage, gnocchetti with pumpkin heart, pumpkin and sausage risotto, as well as succulent mixed grills, pork shank with oven-baked potatoes, and appetizing fried pumpkin, just to mention a few of the dishes from last year’s menu.
If you are wondering what to do in Melara, the pumpkin festival is an opportunity to spend the summer season with live music, dance evenings, cabaret shows, amusement parks for children, and food and wine excellence to be enjoyed in the setting of a charming rural village lapped by the winding course of the Po.
For more information about this lively culinary event, you can consult the Facebook page Pro Loco Melara Festa della Zucca and the website prolocomelara.it.
The church of San Materno Vescovo
Located in Piazza XX Settembre, the imposing archpriest church in exposed brick is distinguished by a Latin cross plan and is internally divided into three white and bright naves.
The place of worship is accessible through three wooden portals, the central one, larger in size, is surmounted by a sinuous frieze ending with a shell-shaped ornament.
The wide central nave is crowned by a barrel vault, while the side ones, surmounted by cross vaults, are embellished with splendid altars in polychrome marbles. Located in the presbytery, the main altar is surmounted by a precious golden canopy.
If you are wondering what to do in Melara, the church of San Materno Vescovo is one of the most extraordinary spiritual, architectural, and artistic landmarks in the province of Rovigo.
Bike ride in Melara, Correggioli, Bergantino and Castelnovo Bariano
The starting point of the itinerary is Piazza XX Settembre. Proceed east for 400 meters along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi in the shade of majestic linden trees, then keep right on Via Guglielmo Marconi. At the intersection with SP25 turn left and proceed east for just over 2 km along Via Paradello, entering the serene rural landscape of Melara marked by well-kept gardens dotted with cypresses, Atlas cedars, magnolias, and oleanders framing elegant farmhouses and rustic buildings surrounded by corn and wheat fields.
After passing the hotel restaurant Possessioni Ferraresi (on your right) turn left onto Via Pagan. Follow the white road that stretches along the border between Veneto and Lombardy in the shade of oaks, field maples, poplars, and many other flourishing tall trees.
After passing the short climb of the grassy embankment (45.06006659569252, 11.172440502742335) turn left and proceed southeast for 4.5 km along Via Argine Po. From the privileged position of the embankment you can admire, to the north, fascinating views of the urban center of Melara and the church of San Materno Vescovo, to the south, the icy course of the Po and the lush vegetation of poplars, willows, elms, and ashes that cloaks its banks.
At this point (45.05369512606509, 11.22508700583849) keep left on Via Mariconda and continue along Via San Michele. At the stop sign turn right onto Via Giuseppe Mazzini. Follow Via Giuseppe Mazzini for 800 meters, then turn right and proceed on Via Guglielmo Marconi, keeping right until you return to Via Argine Po.
Continue along Via Argine Po for almost 5 km, then turn left and descend the embankment (45.03257653578571, 11.268376196442519). At a poplar grove turn left and follow Via Giacciana to the intersection with Via Toscana. Turn left and proceed 3 km, then keep left on Via Givecca. After crossing the center of Bergantino continue on Via G. Oberdan until you return to the center of Melara.
