Discover what to do in Merlara in Province of Padua: the fisherman’s festival, the Natività festival, Villa Barbarigo, Da Zara, and the church of the Natività. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is the municipality of Merlara located?
The municipality of Merlara borders northeast on Casale di Scodosia, northwest on Urbana, south on Castelbaldo, southeast on Masi, west and southwest on Terrazzo, and east on Piacenza d’Adige.
Fisherman’s festival
The 2023 edition of the fisherman’s festival took place from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 June in Via Barbarigo.
The event’s rich menu offers a choice of delicious home-style and gourmet dishes to enjoy in spacious and comfortable dining areas, from seafood salads and seafood spaghetti to tempting fried fish served with slices of grilled polenta, glasses of wine and cold mugs of beer.
If you are wondering what to do in Merlara and would like to spend the spring season in the peaceful setting of a charming rural village in the Lower Padua area, the fisherman’s festival is all about top-quality food and wine specialities, market stalls with local products, amusement parks and dance evenings to disco and techno music, as well as tribute band concerts to relive the greatest hits of Italian and international rock.
For more information about the fisherman’s festival, we recommend visiting the Facebook page Pro Loco Merlara 2014.
The Natività festival
The liturgical calendar celebrates the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on 8 September.
The 2023 edition of the traditional event took place from Friday 8 to Tuesday 12 September in the municipal park of Villa Barbarigo.
Alongside the solemn procession and holy mass, the festival combines the cheerful, carefree atmosphere of a lively village fair with dance performances, musical shows, creative workshops and food stalls where you can taste delicious local specialties.
For more information about the Natività festival, you can visit the Facebook pages Pro Loco Merlara 2014 and Te si da Merlara se… .
Villa Barbarigo, Da Zara
Set over three levels, the majestic 17th-century aristocratic residence features a sumptuous façade, rhythmically marked on the ground floor by a series of pilasters. The first floor is articulated by pillars and half-columns alternating with balustrades. The front is crowned by a refined triangular pediment in which the coat of arms of the noble family is set.
If you are wondering what to do in Merlara, Villa Barbarigo is one of the municipality’s most significant architectural and cultural landmarks.
The church of the Natività in Merlara
Nestled in the historic heart of Merlara at Via Piazza, 27, this neoclassical place of worship stands out for its white façade with a gabled profile, vertically divided into three sections by Corinthian pilasters resting on high bases.
The majestic wooden portal leading into the building is topped by an overhanging, dentilled triangular pediment supported by two sinuous brackets.
The entrance is flanked by two niches containing two statues. The sculpture on the left depicts Saint Anthony, recognizable by his habit, the book in his left hand and the lily in his right hand. The sculpture on the right portrays a bearded man in armor and a cloak.
At the ends of the façade open two trilobed single-lancet windows. Completing the vertical development of the structure are the statues of three saints. At the center stands the figure of the Virgin Mary, and to her right is the statue of Saint Peter, recognizable by the symbol of the Keys of Heaven.
The church houses a precious Renaissance altarpiece, in excellent condition, depicting the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
Beside the church rises the massive medieval bell tower, built in exposed brick, with a large clock in Roman numerals on the east side.
