Rovigo Things to Do

4 more images

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, commonly referred to as "Piazza Vittorio" is the most famous square of Rovigo and it has been for centuries the centre of the political, economical and cultural life of the town. It is surrounded on three sides by beautiful palaces that have always had a great relevance:
- Palazzo Nodari, seat of the city hall;
- Palazzo Roverella, the new seat of the art gallery of the Accademia dei Concordi and of temporary exhibitions;
- Palazzo Roncale;
- Accademia dei Concordi, that hosts an imposing library and was the seat of an art gallery with the most comprehensive collection of Polesan artists (now at Palazzo Roverella);
- Gran Guardia, an impressive building with a conference rooms (I have to photograph it).
In the middle of the square, you see the marble statue of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of the Italian Kingdom from 1861 to 1878 (third photo of this tip).
To sum up, Piazza Vittorio is the heart of Rovigo and of its Venetianness: in case you doubted if Rovigo lies in Veneto or in Emilia-Romagna (a lot of Italians don't know it), a great Saint Mark's lion gives you the answer: this was definitely Venetian land and we should be proud of this heritage!

Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807 – 1882) was an Italian patriot and soldier of the Risorgimento (Italian Unification). He is considered the Italian national hero and was dubbed “Hero of Two Worlds”. He personally led many of the military campaigns that brought about the formation of a unified Italy.

1 more image

Building started around 1594, in an area where a sacred image of the Madonna del Soccorso had been found; the design was by Francesco Zamberlan. The interior is completely covered in Venetian school celebratory paintings of the second half of the 17th century. The bell tower, by Baldassare Longhena was completed in 1773.

Opening hours: In Winter, every day 8.00-1200 am and 3.30-7.30 pm; In Summer, every day 8.00-12.00 am and 4.00-8.00 pm.

1 more image

The Accademia dei Concordi is the oldest academy of Rovigo and one of the most important of the region. It hosts a library and has many rooms with beautiful paintings. I suggest you should visit it if you can. Moreover, it used to house a remarkable collection of paintings by local artists, but they were moved to Palazzo Roverella in October 2007.
The neoclassical facade of the palace (see photo), located at one corner of the square, next to Palazzo Nodari, was made by local artist Sante Baseggio in 1814.

Just a few steps away you'll find this small but nice square with a very nice sculpture in the center--this is Garibaldi Square. The square is surrounded by beautifully restored medieval houses and palazzi...

The main square of Rovigo is known as "Piazza Grande" or Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II". This is where any visit to Rovigo should start. Take the time to wander all around the square to admire the beautiful architecture--as it is here where you'll find some civil buildings and small palaces which are real architectural gems, like the Palazzo Rovigo, Palazzo Roncale, and the Accademia dei Concordi. The Accademia dei Concordi was founded in 1580 by Count Gaspare Campo and is now an important picture gallery, with paintings by Bellini, Palma the Elder, and even Tiepolo!

Be sure not to miss the square at night!

3 more images

The Chiesa del Cristo, whose full name should be Oratorio della Santissima Concezione lies where the first Franciscan church of the town was built in the middle of the 13th century. The tradition says that the Saint has been praying there one night while he was passing across Rovigo.
The church you see today was widened and partly rebuilt from the 17th century on. The bell tower dates of 1793 and the façade of 1888.

1 more image

The main monument of Piazza Garibaldi is the equestrian statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, of course! This man, referred to as the Hero of the two worlds, contributed to the Italian unity which started with the famous Expedition of the Thousand.