Discover what to do in Vighizzolo d’Este in the Province of Padua: the Madonna della Neve festival, the church of San Giovanni Battista, and a bike ride in Vighizzolo d’Este. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Vighizzolo d’Este?
The municipality of Vighizzolo d’Este borders north with Carceri, to the northeast with Este, to the south with Sant’Urbano, to the east with Este and Villa Estense, to the west with Ponso and Piacenza d’Adige.
Madonna della Neve festival
The Catholic Church celebrates Our Lady of the Snow on August 5. In the municipality of Vighizzolo d’Este, the village festival is also held in the days following this date. The 2023 edition of this traditional event took place from Saturday, August 5 to Wednesday, August 9 in the heart of the charming rural town in the Lower Padua area.
An ideal occasion for food lovers, the festival offers spacious dining areas where you can choose among delicious land and sea dishes, from succulent chops, ribs and sausages sizzling on the grill to tasty fried fish, from exquisite plates of bigoli with duck ragù and donkey meat with grilled polenta to appetizing seafood salads, not to mention tempting piadine and sandwiches served with crispy fries and cold mugs of craft beer, nothing better to quench your thirst and ease the summer heat.
If you’re wondering what to do in Vighizzolo d’Este and want to spend the summer in the beautiful setting of a lovely country village full of fun and lightheartedness, the Madonna della Neve festival features live music, exciting fireworks displays, amusement parks, exhibitions of paintings and photographs and, of course, local food and wine specialties.
For more information about the Madonna della Neve festival, we recommend visiting the Facebook pages Comitato Festeggiamenti Vighizzolo d’Este and Giovani Vighizzolo d’Este.
Parish Church of San Giovanni Battista
Located in Piazza Negri Guido, 19, the church of San Giovanni Battista stands out for a sumptuous façade characterized by a convex surface, horizontally divided into two orders.
Rhythmically marked by white Doric pilasters resting on tall bases, the lower level features in the center the massive wooden portal surmounted by a curved pediment. On the sides are two niches containing two statues, the one on the right depicting San Tommaso d’Aquino, the one on the left San Prosdocimo, first bishop of Padua. The former is recognizable by the sober habit of the Dominican order, the latter by the miter (bishop’s headwear) and the jug, a testament to his work as a baptizer. The pastoral staff, another distinctive element of San Prosdocimo, is absent as part of the right arm.
The Ionic pilasters of the upper level, aligned with those below, frame an elegant exposed brick surface placed in the center. On the sides are two more niches decorated with statues, the one on the right depicting Sant’Osvaldo, the one on the left Sant’Antonio. The former is recognizable by the armor, scepter and crown, the latter by the Franciscan habit and the lily in his right hand.
Completing the façade is the curved, broken pediment, topped by five statues, among which San Paolo with the sword at his side (far right), San Pietro with the keys (far left) and the Madonna, beside the latter, stand out.
Bike ride in Vighizzolo d’Este, Carmignano and Villa Estense
The starting point of the route is the parking area of the church of San Giovanni Battista in Via Marco Giuliani. Enter the roundabout, take the second exit and head east, gently uphill, along the SP15. After crossing the Frassine river, continue along Via Calmana for 160 meters, then turn right onto Via Botte.
Continue along via Botte for 1.8 km, then keep right on the dirt road that winds along the tree-lined embankments of the river. Leave the three “canne” bridge on your right and cross the bridge over the Gorzone.
At this point, continue southeast along the straight gravel road that runs alongside the Gorzone, offering striking wide-open views of the countryside around Vighizzolo dotted with farmsteads and charming rustic buildings. At the intersection with Via Valgrande, turn left.
Continue for 5.3 km crossing the center of Carmignano and Villa Estense. After the charming 16th-century church of the Beata Vergine Assunta del Pilastro, keep left on Via Mattei. On the horizon, the gentle profile of the Colli Euganei comes into view.
After 280 meters, keep right and continue for 3 km along via Marzare and via Guola L. When you reach the overpass of the regional road 10var, keep left. Follow the canal for 1.7 km along via Crocetta and via Calcatonega. Cross the bridge on your right, then keep left (sharp bend) and continue on via Calcatonega. At the stop sign, keep right and follow Via Calmana until you return to the starting point.
