Rovigo: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

Photo by Threecharlie. Rovigo is located in the southern part of Veneto, on the border with Emilia Romagna, in a flat area notoriously rich in waterways and about 40 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea. Rovigo is included in the vast area of ​​the Veneto Regional Park of the Po Delta, an area of ​​great natural and historical interest . Small and quiet city at first sight, hides interesting paths and centuries of history. Did you know, for example, that inside Rovigo there are some mighty towers that are part of a grandiose medieval fortress
This is just one of the surprises of the city, here is Rovigo: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening .

What to see in Rovigo

1 – Church of the Beata Vergine del Soccorso
Photo by Threecharlie. This religious building, called La Rotonda for its octagonal plan, is one of the most famous and historic in the city. It is a truly monumental church , which amazes even more when one thinks of its origin: it was built between the 16th and 17th centuries for the sole purpose of preserving a modest-sized image of the Madonna and Child, to which the inhabitants of the city were very devout and that it was frescoed inside a small oratory. In fact, it seems that the oratory was unable to accommodate the flow of devotees to the Vergine del Soccorso, who had interceded several times for the population of Rovigo, for example during a plague epidemic.
The exterior is magnificent, colcolonnade that follows the octagonal plan , but the interior will leave you even more breathless. There is a splendid altar that dates back to 1607 , and the whole decoration around the tiny picture of the Virgin is incredible: there are a series of angels holding up the painting, and the whole structure starts from the altar. Also note the large organ , which has been here since 1767.

• How to get there: it is located about 1.5 kilometers from the Rovigo railway station, reachable on foot in about 20 minutes, taking viale Marconi and then proceeding along via della Pace. From Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, in the center, and very close, it is about 500 meters, it takes 5 minutes on foot. From the station the U12 shuttle bus leaves every two hours, and stops in via della Pace, from there it is necessary to walk for about 450 meters through viale Trieste. Get directions
• Hours: closed on Monday, open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30, Sunday opens at 09:00. Tourist visits are suspended during masses.
• Ticket cost: Free

2 – Palazzo Roverella
Photo by Threecharlie. Palazzo Roverella is a majestic building that comes directly from the Renaissance and Este period of the city . It overlooks Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the beating heart of Rovigo. It was commissioned in 1474 by Cardinal Roverella to celebrate a particularly prosperous period of his family. Over the centuries the building has undergone interventions inadequate to its original elegance, until the end of the Second World War when a renovation restored the façade, playing in particular with the colors of the red of the bricks and the white of the marbles, so that , once in the square, it is impossible not to notice it. The interior, on the other hand, was renovated only after 1985.
Today the building housesexhibitions of international importance , two of which are permanent: the splendid Pinacoteca , one of the most important and prestigious collections in Veneto, with the masterpieces of Italian masters including Tiepolo, and Archeology , with Etruscan, Roman, Greek and Venetian finds. There are also often temporary exhibitions inside the building, usually dedicated to art between 1800 and 1900.

• How to get there: it is located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and is about 1 kilometer from the station, a 13-minute walk on Corso del Popolo. By public transport, it is possible to take buses U6-U7-U8 and get off, in a few minutes, at the Corso del Popolo BNL stop, from there it is sufficient to cross the road, it is about 100 meters. Get directions
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 19:00, Saturday and Sunday open until 20:00.
• Ticket cost: € 5.00

3 – Museum of the Great Rivers
The Museum of the Great Rivers is an exhibition dedicated to the civilizations that arose on the banks of the rivers that characterize the territory, in particular the areas of the Po and Adige delta. The exhibition is housed in the ancient former Olivetani Monastery. The museum is divided into three areas dedicated to the periods : the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Roman Age.
The exhibition path is innovative and allows the visitor to touch and actively participate in the visit, there are reconstructions of the discovery sites and life-size dioramas that represent the uses and customs of the period of the exhibits.

• How to get there: it is located in Piazza San Bartolomeo, about 2 kilometers from the station, half an hour on foot through Corso del Popolo. Buses U6, U7 and U8 leave from the station approximately every 30-40 minutes and can leave you in Piazzale Appiotti, from which the Museum is 300 meters away. The ride takes less than ten minutes. From Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II the Museum is about 950 meters away, a 10-minute walk through the center, following Corso del Popolo. Get directions
• Hours: closed on Monday, open from Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 13:00, with last admission one hour before closing; Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00.
• Ticket cost: € 4.00

4 – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
Photo by Threecharlie. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and the heart of Rovigo , the main square of the historic center. Here you can relax in one of the outdoor cafes and, from there, take a look at the surrounding buildings and statues. For example, placed on a high column, there is the lion of Venice , which survived the period in which Rovigo belonged to the Republic of Venice.
Among the buildings there is the Accademia dei Concordi , which once housed the precious Pinacoteca which is now located in Palazzo Roverella, Palazzo Municipale , the Loggia dei Notari and the Clock Tower . Of course, above all, there is reallyPalazzo Roverella and its neighbor Palazzo Roncale . In the square there is also a splendid statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II to whom the square is dedicated.

• How to get there: the station is about 1.2 kilometers from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, which can be reached on foot in a quarter of an hour through Corso del Popolo. Otherwise it is possible to take buses U6-U7-U8, about every half hour you can find a ride, within a few minutes they stop at Corso del Popolo BNL, where there is the entrance to the square. Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free

5 – Medieval Castle Towers
Photo by Threecharlie. The center of Rovigo hides unexpected secrets, and it is thus that, inside a beautiful park, you can find the two towers, Dona and Grimani , both hanging, remains of the ancient medieval castle that served as a fortification for the city, of the which still remain various gates along the path of the walls, including that of San Bortolo . Unfortunately, the towers can only be visited from the outside, even if a future opening of the Torre Dona is planned with a panoramic view of the whole city: reason to come back soon!
In fact, the Dona tower is 51 meters high and is better preserved than the nearby Grimani, called Torre Mozzabecause the upper part has completely collapsed. All around there is a splendid park with games for children, benches and the opportunity to relax a bit.

• How to get there: the Towers of the Medieval Castle are located in Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, about 950 meters from the station, which can be reached on foot in 12 minutes through Corso del Popolo. They are a few meters away from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, and you simply need to cross Corso del Popolo, so you can also take public transport from the station, bus U6-U7-U8 and get off at Corso del Popolo BNL, the Towers are located 200 meters away. in a northerly direction. Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free

6 – Church of Santi Francesco e Giustina
Photo by Threecharlie. The Church of Santa Giustina , which also gave its name to the neighborhood on the Adigetto, was once located where there is now Piazza Garibaldi, not far from the current site. The first document attesting the existence of the Church dates back to 1206. Only then, in 1800, the Church was transferred to the current building where the Church of San Francesco was already present., thus uniting the cult of the two Saints. The current building is the result of a renovation that began in 1827, which completely changed the style of the original building. The facade was built at a later time on the current churchyard. It was initially decorated by the presence of five statues, which were eliminated in the late 1960s. A curiosity: in 1914 the baptismal font
was finally inaugurated , which had been requested in 1603, more than three hundred years earlier , by the parish priest of Santa Giustina. Worthy of note is, on the third right altar, a marble statue by Giovanni Marchiori depicting San Lorenzo, as well as some important paintings and the ancient organ.

• How to get there: it is located in piazzale San Francesco, about 1.4 km from the station, twenty minutes on foot through Corso del Popolo and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, which is not even 300 meters away. By public transport, you can always take buses U6-U7-U8 and get off in Corso del Popolo BNL, the Church is 350 meters across Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. Get directions
• Hours: open during the day except during mass hours, weekdays 18:30, holidays at 10:00, 11:00 and 18:30.
• Ticket cost: Free

7 – Palazzo Roncale
Palazzo Roncale is a noble palace located near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. It was built in 1555 by the Roncale family, who had moved from Bergamo around the middle of the 15th century. The project had been entrusted to Michele Sanmicheli from Verona, who had a difficult task: to ensure that Palazzo Roncale could compete with the elegance of Palazzo Roverella without disfiguring it. The palace was built with a plan very similar to that of the Venetian palaces; in the twentieth century it was then subjected to a major renovation. Currently, Palazzo Roncale hosts an ideal thematic continuation of the collection of the Pinacoteca del Palazzo Roverella and, frequently, some temporary exhibitions.

• How to get there: it is located right in front of the Palazzo Roverella, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, about 1 kilometer from the station, a 13-minute walk on Corso del Popolo; or, by public transport, it is possible to take buses U6-U7-U8 and get off, in a few minutes, at Corso del Popolo BNL, from there it will be sufficient to cross the road, they are about 100 meters. Get directions
• Hours: open only on Fridays from 09:00 to 19:00, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 09:00 to 20:00
• Ticket cost: Free

8 – Porta San Bortolo
The Porta San Bortolo is really interesting, because it is the best preserved of the two remaining of the Rovigo city walls. Its structure is made of brick with a single arch and overlooks Piazza Umberto Merlin, and a connecting door between the city center and the San Bartolomeo district, south of the city. Its appearance has remained practically the same that it assumed during the work on the walls, after 1482, by the Republic of Venice; noteworthy, and clearly visible, is the Ghibelline battlements , which have recently been restored. This gate is really worth a walk, reaching out a little from the center, to admire it.

• How to get there: it is located about 1.4 kilometers from the station, twenty minutes on foot through Corso del Popolo. By public transport, you can always take buses U6-U7-U8 and get off at Corso del Popolo BNL, the door is 250 meters southbound. From piazza Vittorio Emanuele II it is about 200 meters away, a two-minute walk through via Cavour. Get directions
• Hours: always accessible.
• Ticket cost: Free

9 – Church of San Bartolomeo
The church of San Bartolomeo is characteristic because it is one of the few examples of 16th century religious architecture present in the southern area of ​​Veneto. Inside there are also some elements of the Baroque style , such as stuccos and frescoes , added during the following century. The current building was built as a substitute for the previous monastery church, also dedicated to San Bartolomeo, built in the thirteenth century by the congregation of the Umiliati. In 1480 the old convent was demolished and the new church built which includes the current cloister connected to the outside by a stone portal above which the anathema of Pope Gregory XI is clearly visible, written against anyone who dared to violate the monastery. Note the organ dated 1778, positioned to the side of the main altar, on a choir loft, which is still functioning.

• How to get there: it is located 2 kilometers from the station, about a 25-minute walk through the center and Corso del Popolo, and 900 meters from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, an 11-minute walk through via Don Minzoni. From the station you can take buses U6 and U7 towards Pontecchio and San Cassiano and get off in via Antonio Oroboni, it takes about fifteen minutes, the church is 450 meters away. Get directions
• Hours: open during the day except during mass hours, on weekdays at 07:30 and 18:00, Sundays and holidays at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 19:00. It is possible to arrange with the parish for a guided tour of about an hour.
• Ticket cost: Free

10 – Torre Pighin
The Torre Pighin , which takes its name from the street in which it is located, is the third of the three towers of Rovigo that have survived over time , and was part of the walls built in 1138 by the Bishop of Adria precisely to strengthen the defense of the city. It is built in masonry with a square plan, and currently stands in the midst of modern houses, indeed, after various vicissitudes the tower has returned to being for private residential use, as it had already been in the past, and this means, unfortunately, that it is not visitable if not from the outside. A tour around the Tower and, however, recommended, to see this witness of the past that still resists in the midst of contemporary buildings.

• How to get there: it is located 1.3 kilometers from the station, about 20 minutes walk through Corso del Popolo, or by public transport you can take buses U6-U7-U8 and get off at Corso del Popolo BNL, the Tower is 260 meters south on the left. From piazza Vittorio Emanuele II it is about 350 meters, 5 minutes on foot through Corso del Popolo. Get directions
• Hours: outside and always accessible.
• Ticket cost: Free

One day itinerary in Rovigo

• Morning : We leave from the south side of the city, in order to take advantage of the morning opening of the Museum of the Great Rivers which, however, can also be visited on weekend afternoons. First, however, we have breakfast at the nearby Gocce di Miele pastry shop. After visiting the Museum, right in front of it, we can visit the Church of San Bartolomeo , and then head towards the center through Corso del Popolo. Along the way we can stop to admire the Porta San Bortolo , and, a little further up, hidden among the houses, the Pighin Tower . We eat our lunch in the central area of ​​Corso del Popolo, in Tavernetta Dante 1936. But let’s not have coffee!
• Afternoon : We continue calmly and go and sit in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II , we order one there while admiring the beauty of this square. Then we can visit the Museum inside Palazzo Roverella , which is open all day and, if on the weekend, maybe even Palazzo Roncale to complete the visit of the Pinacoteca. After that we move from the square and go to visit the Temple of the Beata Vergine del Soccorso , which absolutely must not be missing and, if we still have time, the Church of Saints Francesco and Giustina . We complete the afternoon with a nice stop in the park where the Dona and Grimani Towers are housed. If we have children with us, they will be happy to have fun on the playground.
• Evening : We move to the liveliest area of ​​the city, the one between Corso del Popolo and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and order a glass of wine, or have dinner directly at Enoteca Otto.

One day itinerary at a glance

1. Breakfast at the Gocce di Miele pastry shop
2. Museum of the Great Rivers – opening hours: from Tue to Fri from 9:00 to 13:00 – Sat and Sun from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00 – ticket price: full price € 4.00 reduced € 2.00
3. Church of San Bartolomeo – opening hours: accessible except for mass hours – ticket price: free
4. Porta San Bortolo and Torre Pighin – opening hours: always accessible from outside – ticket price: free
5. Lunch at Tavernetta Dante 1936
6. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II – opening hours: always accessible – ticket price: free
7. Palazzo Roverella – opening hours: from Mon to Fri from 9:00 to 19:00 – Sat and Sun until 20:00 ticket price: full € 5.00 reduced € 3.50
8. Tempio della Beata Vergine del Soccorso – opening hours: from Tue to Sat from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30, Sun opens at 09:00 – ticket price: free
9. Towers Dona and Grimani – opening hours: always accessible – ticket price: free
10. Dinner at Enoteca Otto

Where to eat in Rovigo

1. Tavernetta Dante 1936 : historic restaurant, typical cuisine, stewed eel and sardines in saor, excellent desserts
   Average price per person: € 25.00
   Address and contacts: Corso del Popolo, 212 (Get directions) / tel: +39 042526386
2. Enoteca da Otto : wide selection of wines, typical products, cutting boards
   Average price per person: € 25.00
   Address and contacts: via Nino Bedendo, 26 (Get directions) / tel: +39 042525581
3. Osteria ai Trani : typical Venetian cuisine in an informal setting
   Average price per person: € 30.00
   Address and contacts: via Cavour, 30 (Get directions) / tel: +39 042525109

What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and the best clubs
Rovigo is a quiet town, however during the weekend and in the summer the most characteristic places of the city come alive with new life: in particular Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II , full of clubs, the small streets in the center around it and Corso del Popolo , the long busy street that crosses the city from north to south. If you are looking for discos, most of them are located in Arqua Polesine (about 10 kilometers from Rovigo) and Adria (about 25 kilometers), but the city center does not spare itself anyway with clubs offering live music and drinks.

• Antico Caffe Franchin : historic lounge bar / pub, specializing in happy hour and live outdoor music / Address: piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 24 (Get directions) / Facebook page
• Passion music club : disco open until late at night, techno music / Address: viale Porta Adige, 54 (Get directions) / Facebook page

Plan your stay in Rovigo: info and useful tips

• How to get there: from Milan, via the A4, Rovigo is 250 kilometers away, just over three hours by car. With the train, the best solution is a Frecciabianca to Bologna and then a Regional, the journey lasts 3 hours and a half and the cost of the ticket is € 42.00 each way. From Rome, via the A1 and then A13, Rovigo is 450 kilometers away, almost five hours by car. With the train, the best solution is a Frecciarossa to Bologna and then a Regional, the journey takes just over 3 hours and the cost of the ticket is about € 70.00 each way. The closest airports to Rovigo are the Venice airport (about 65 km away), the Bologna airport (about 72 km away), the Venice-Treviso airport (about 73 km away) and the Verona airport (about 79 km away). km).
• How to get around : Rovigo is a city of modest size, you can visit all the attractions of the center on foot. If you wish to move from the city, however, a car is recommended. To get around with the FS Bus buses, which are not very frequent, the cost of the ticket is € 1.30 and is valid for 75 minutes.
• Where to park : you can also park in the central areas, in the blue lines, for a fee, € 1.30 per hour (free from 20:00 to 8:00). At 600 meters from Palazzo Roverella there is the Multi-storey Parking (Get directions), which costs € 1.20 per hour from Monday to Saturday, € 0.60 on Sundays and during the night. The only free parking in the center and in via Sante Baseggio (Get directions) but, for this reason, it is very often full. There is also a free one in front of the station (Get directions) but, again, with very few parking spaces.
• Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 60.00 per room – see the offers
• What to see in the surrounding area : The Veneto Regional Park of the Po Delta is located about 60 kilometers from Rovigo, an hour by car; Ferrara is 38 kilometers away, just over half an hour by car; Padua is 45 kilometers away, about 50 minutes by car; Venice is 82 kilometers away, just over an hour’s drive.