Rovigo Things to Do

Teatro Sociale was built in 1817-19 and is the most important theatre of the town: both drama and opera are performed there. The top of the facade has five bas-relieves representing the different components of theatre and opera: masks and musical instruments (you can see them in the following tip).
The inside is very beautiful: you can see paintings portraying the most famous opera musicians, like Verdi, Rossini and so on. The author was a relative of my grand-father, who is himself a very good painter.
The opera and drama seasons take place from October-November to March-April but I'm always sad when I go there (I used to go to the theatre before starting university) and I see that 90% of the spectators are aged people. Young people never go to the theatre and this theatre is very often half empty.

4 more images

Here you see the decorations on the facade of Teatro Sociale, which represent Greek masks and classic instruments to symbolize drama and opera, both genres being performed in the same building. These bas-relieves are located above the windows, as you see in my previous tip.

4 more images

Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is the second most important square of the town, very close to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. It is dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi, also known as Hero of the two worlds, who played a very important role in the unification of the Italian peninsula under the Kingdom of Sardegna that became Kingdom of Italia and is commemorated here with a bronze equestrian monument.
You can see many ancient and beautiful buildings in this square:
- Caffè Borsa, one of the oldest cafés in Rovigo;
- Camera di Commercio ("Trade Chamber");
- Teatro Sociale, the main theatre (more about it in its own tip).

Previously known as Corpo di Guardia, this Austrian Guardhouse was built by Venetian Tommaso Meduna in 1854.

The column of Saint Mark’s Lion was built in 1519 as a symbol of the Venetian rule that lasted until 1797. The original lion was stolen by Napoleon’s men, necessitating a replacement in 1881.