Dear visitors, welcome to Campodarsego. This text accompanies the practical tourist map attached and will help you organize your experience discovering the territory. Follow these nuggets of history to learn about places, environments, and curiosities related to the city and its fractions and take advantage of the opportunities proposed by the merchants of the Commerce District.
In the heart of the Graticolato Romano. The history of Campodarsego has its roots in the Roman era: the organization of the road network and the structure of the territory reflect the perfect subdivision into centuriae implemented in the second half of the 1st century BC. Did you know that the main road of Campodarsego, the current Strada del Santo, corresponds to the ancient via Aurelia, the cardo of the Roman Centuration of the Agro Padovano? It is, therefore, a very important communication route, always a link between the city of Padova and the province of Treviso. This road has witnessed the passage of ambassadors, saints, and princes.
The slow rhythm of water. Campodarsego is crossed by three rivers that shape the geometry and mark the rhythm of the community’s time. The Muson dei Sassi (2a) is the straight river that traverses the entire capital and runs alongside the Strada del Santo. Dug in 1612, it is considered one of the most important works carried out by the “Savi delle acque” of the Republic of Venice, who, with this operation, separated the Muson dei Sassi from the Muson Vecchio. The river Tergola (2b) is a spring watercourse that flows gently, tracing wide bends through the rural territory of Campodarsego. A well-signposted cycle path allows for gentle mobility to discover lush natural corners. The river Lusore (2c) touches the eastern edge of Campodarsego. And here’s another curiosity: in the heraldic coat of arms of the Municipality, these three rivers are depicted, in silver on a red background.
A magical word: Tergolandia. It is truly a magical word, just like the environment in which it develops. There are no gates or barriers in this artistic-naturalistic park, which winds along the Tergola River, in the Bronzola area for about 1.5 kilometers. The riverbanks become the perfect natural setting for a walk among wooden gnomes, stone animals, iron birds taking flight, and many other mysterious guests made from reclaimed materials. And all around you, the silence of nature. Is it or isn’t it magic?
A place of devotion: Chiesetta di Campanigalli. During your cycling journey in Tergolandia, take a break at the countryside church of Campanigalli, or del Panigale, in the Bronzola area. The wide garden in front of the church allows you to park your bike: here, remember to fill your water bottle at the fountain. The small church before you is a visible testament to the community’s devotion, and the name recalls the cultivation of an ancient cereal, panicum. It is one of the oldest chapels in the area, and its construction has medieval roots. We invite you to closely observe the bricks of the facade: you might discover curious details, such as an ancient millstone in trachyte and bricks stamped with the marks of Roman families. These are the points of interest included on the map, in addition to the church of Panigale, you will find the main churches of Campodarsego: 4A Chiesetta di Campanigalli, Via Panigale 4B Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, Campodarsego, Via Caltana, 3 4C Chiesa dei Ss Pietro e Paolo, loc.Bronzola, Via Straelle, 1, Bronzola 4D Chiesa di San Nicola loc. Fiumicello, Via Bassa III, 1 4E Chiesa di S. Andrea, loc. S.Andrea, Via Caltana, 292 4F Chiesa di San Daniele, loc. Reschigliano, via Ca’ Brion, 1.
Cycling along an ancient road. The route we recommend is the Last Path of St. Anthony, a path of about 25 km that connects the cities of Camposampiero and Padova, passing right through the center of Campodarsego. The flow of the Muson dei Sassi River will be your faithful travel companion up to the gates of the city of the Saint.
The capitals. This term, typical of the Venetian dialect, refers to the votive shrines that are often found at road intersections. Boundary stones in past eras, the capitals express a religious devotion of gratitude and appreciation. During the excursion through the countryside, you will encounter numerous capitals. Some of these are ancient testimonies, others are noble sentiments of prayer and respect located within private gardens, on the outer walls of houses, or at the center of crossroads, such as the Capitello della Pietà (6a) in the Fiumicello area, with a well-crafted stone statue from 1683 depicting the Deposition. Two beautiful curiosities: at the Capitello di S. Maria della Pace (6l), there is the “old fair of Capiteo” at the end of September, while the Madonna del Carmine (6e) is entrusted with the first bunches of grapes. In the map, we have highlighted some shrines, but we invite you to scan the landscape looking for these small and large works. 6A Capitello della Pietà, via Capitelli (trivio) and via Bassa II 6B Statue Mons. Andrea Giacinto Longhin and Museum, piazzale church Fiumicello 6C Capitello dell’Immacolata, via S. Giuliano 31 6D Capitello S.Antonio, via Straelle 67/69 (Bronzola) 6E Capitello Madonna del Carmine, via Olmo intersection with via Capitelli 6F Capitello Madonna Pellegrina, via Straelle, intersection with via Olmo and via Cinganame 6G Capitello s.Antonio, via Caltana, intersection with via Garelli and via Quattrocà 6H Capitello Beata Immacolata, via Pontarola 19 6I Capitello Beata Immacolata and Monument to the Elderly, via Verdi 47 6L Capitello Regina Margherita, via Croce – via Rossignolo 6M Cippo Ceron, Via Caltana.
The noble face of the territory. Campodarsego is dotted with small and large architectural and artistic jewels that testify to the perfect harmony between the working-residential function of the buildings and the rural landscape. The tradition of villa civilization began in the 16th century, and Campodarsego welcomed wealthy families who built important structures in collaboration with local craftsmen. Between the 17th and 20th centuries, very large yet simple constructions arose, such as the 17th-century complex known as Villa Dalesmanini da Rio (7c) in the S. Andrea area, the contemporary villa Mattiazzo (7a) in the center of Campodarsego, and the elegant Liberty-style villa known as Villa Aghito Maschio (7a). The villas listed here are for the most part: their beauty is worth scrutinizing. 7A Villa Mattiazzo Gelmi Bano, Via Caltana, 101 7B Villa Aghito Maschio, Via Antoniana 212 7C Villa Menini, Via Pontarola, 21, Reschigliano 7D Villa Morandi and Fornace Morandi Ferrarin, Via Pioga, 228 7E Villa Romiati, Via Bassa I, 81 7F Villa Marcello Fonzago Da Rio Marzaro, Via Caltana, 229 7G Villa Squarcina, Municipality headquarters.
Once upon a time. Stories made of castles, princes, and princesses usually begin this way. In S. Andrea di Campodarsego stood the large fief owned by the Dalesmanini family, and among the most important figures was Speronella, sometimes painted as a Padovan heroine, other times as a fierce castle lady. The family’s fame and actions are so strong that they caught Dante’s attention, who included Speronella Dalesmanini’s son in Hell (XIII, vv. 133-135).
A forest for the Bishop. During your cycling journey discovering Campodarsego, you will happen upon a locality called Bosco del Vescovo (9a), between the city and the nearby municipality of S. Giorgio delle Pertiche. The name recalls the vast countryside properties of the Bishop of Padua, mainly used as a hunting reserve. Besides the forest, the Bishop owned a beautiful palace (9b) equipped with a well, oven, garden, pigeon loft, and fish pond. Unfortunately, this residence and all its accompanying palaces no longer exist. However, the land has brought to light numerous coats of arms and other stone materials dating back to the 17th – 18th centuries and visible along with a stretch of the Bishop’s “carezà.”
Mills and millers. The Tergola River is a spring river that drains into the Brenta, and along its course, from Cittadella to Vigonza, there are numerous traces of milling activity. These are factories and mills, no longer operational, but whose walls hold secrets that slowly reveal themselves to us. As you approach, you can understand the structure: on the first floor typically is the milling room and on the second floor, the storage and living quarters. 10A Mulino Volpato, Via Olmo, 94 10B Mulino Nalesso Sant’Andrea di Campodarsego.
Industry. The high Padova has always been a land of labor and ingenuity. In the past, agricultural work was linked to the skills of skilled artisans, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, shoemakers, and tailors, to whom family-run businesses were gradually added. In the checkerboard of the centuriation, large industrial areas have now emerged where solid companies known worldwide are based.
